Elora massage therapist accused of inappropriately touching client - GuelphMercury.com

[massage]

Angie Brennand, a spokesperson for CMTO, told the Mercury Tribune via email that “(t)he threshold for suspending or placing conditions on a massage therapist’s certificate of registration is high, and many case-specific factors (which we are unable to discuss) need to be considered.”

Example of such factors, she said, include whether there is an ongoing criminal matter, if there is a history of concerns about the massage therapist, if the practice is a solo operation or a group clinic, and the nature and seriousness of the allegations.

Brennand said the college conducted an investigation after receiving the complaint — she did not specify when that came in — before referring it to the college’s discipline committee late last year.

While she could not get into the specifics of the investigation, Brennand said “an investigator may visit the site of the alleged incident(s), interview people who may have pertinent information, and/or meet separately with both the complainant and the massage therapist.”

After the investigation is completed, a report is put together and submitted to the college’s Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC), which reviews the report and decides where to go from there.

“The ICRC is responsible for assessing the information gathered and determining whether the allegation is serious enough to warrant a referral to discipline and if so, whether sufficient evidence is available to meet the burden of proof at discipline,” she added.

“In a case where a referral to discipline is not made, the ICRC may order a remedial outcome,” Brennand said, pointing to options such as issuing a caution, requiring the massage therapist to do appropriate educational courses, or in some cases take no further action.

Should the discipline committee rule there was misconduct, the panel has the power to revoke a massage therapist’s certificate of registration, impose a suspension, or put conditions or limitations on the RMT.

Currently, no date has been set for Boggess to appear in front of the college’s discipline committee.