Nature of Action and Reasons: A panel of the Discipline Committee convened to hear a formal citation issued to the respondent, Joanne Argatoff, on January 24, 2022. Ms. Argatoff was a registered massage therapist at the time of the events described in the citation but ceased to be a registrant of the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (the “College”) on December 31, 2022, when she failed to renew her registration with the College.

The citation set out allegations that Ms. Argatoff practiced massage therapy without professional liability insurance and that she failed to respond in a professional, responsive, and timely manner to inquiries, requests and direction from the College regarding the expiration of her professional liability insurance coverage. The Discipline Committee hearing panel issued a decision and reasons dated March 7, 2023. On March 21, 2023, the hearing panel issued a corrected decision, to correct minor errors.

Allegation 1

The panel found that between approximately October 1, 2019 and January 1, 2020, while Ms. Argatoff was a practicing registrant, she practiced massage therapy without professional liability insurance coverage.

The panel determined that by engaging in this conduct, Ms. Argatoff breached the College’s Bylaws and that she committed unprofessional conduct.

Allegation 2

The panel found that between approximately February 7, 2020 and January 24, 2022, Ms. Argatoff failed to reply to communications from the College in a timely or responsive manner, or at all, regarding the expiration of her professional liability insurance coverage and lack of communication regarding same, including the following communications from the College:

• A letter sent by email and registered mail dated February 7, 2020;
• A letter sent by email and registered mail dated March 4, 2020;
• An email dated March 25, 2020;
• An email and letter sent by regular mail dated April 2, 2020;
• An email and letter sent by registered mail dated June 22, 2020;
• An email and letter sent by regular mail dated July 3, 2020;
• A letter sent by email dated September 1, 2020;
• A letter sent by process server dated September 1, 2020;
• A letter sent by process server dated September 16, 2020;
• A letter sent by email dated October 17, 2020;
• An email dated October 23, 2020;
• A letter sent by email dated November 16, 2020; and
• A letter sent by email and regular mail dated January 13, 2021.

The panel determined that by engaging in this conduct, Ms. Argatoff breached the College’s Code of Ethics then in effect and that she committed unprofessional conduct.

Conclusion

In summary, the panel found that the College had proved both of the allegations set out in the citation to the requisite standard. The hearing will now proceed to a decision on penalty and costs, as outlined below.

Read the full Reasons for Decision (PDF).

Following the issuance of the March 7, 2023 decision, the panel, as required by law, requested submissions in writing from the College and Ms. Argatoff regarding the appropriate penalty and costs. When the panel has issued a decision regarding penalty and costs, this public notice will be updated.