A Prince George registered massage therapist has been fined and temporarily suspended for two different inappropriate incidents with patients.
Trevor Scott has voluntarily entered into a consent and undertaking agreement with the Inquiry Committee of College of Massage Therapists of B.C.
In March 2019, the association received a complaint about Scott from a female patient who alleged that during two massage therapy treatments, Scott masturbated with one hand while massaging her with his other hand, while the woman was lying face down on the massage table).
Another incident occurred in April 2019. A female patient contacted association claiming that during some recent massage therapy treatments, she believed Scott was handling his cellular phone with one hand while massaging her with the other hand. She also advised that in her most recent treatment with Scott, while lying face down, she looked up quickly and the Registrant immediately moved to hide his cellular phone.
According to the College of Massage Therapist of B.C. ruling, on May 14, 2019, Scott provided a 45-minute massage therapy treatment to a college undercover male investigator who posed as a patient. While the investigator was lying face down on the massage table, Scott massaged the investigator with one hand while using his other hand to hold his cellular telephone, on which he was tapping and swiping. Scott had his cellular phone in his hand for a total of 15 minutes and 24 seconds of the treatment and was using it to play a game similar to Candy Crush, with a name similar to “Empire”.
On multiple occasions in late 2018 and early 2019, Scott used his cellular phone while a patient was lying prone (face down) on the massage table, originally to communicate with front desk staff at his clinic and then eventually to access and play puzzles or games (including the “Empire” game, a drawing app, Sudoku and Mahjong). His purpose in doing so was to remain alert and awake.
As part of the agreement, Scott agreed tp a formal reprimand; a 10-day suspension from practice starting February 19); a permanent condition on his practice of massage therapy, namely that he cannot have his cellular phone present in any treatment room during a massage therapy treatment; intensive remedial coursework on professional ethics and boundaries; payment of a fine in the amount of $750 for each incident; payment of a portion of the costs of the investigation in the amount of $1,500 on each incident; undertakings not to repeat the conduct; and an undertaking to comply with section 11 of the College’s practice environment standard of practice (which took effect on January 15, 2021) with respect to his use of electronic recording devices other than his cellular phone (which he is not permitted to have in a treatment room during a treatment, per the condition on his practice).