Nature of Action: A section 39(2) order by consent under section 37.1 of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183. The Inquiry Committee directed the issuance of a citation for a discipline hearing to Paul Christopher. Following the issuance of the citation giving notice of a formal discipline hearing, Mr. Christopher consented to an order by the Inquiry Committee that:

• his registration with CMTBC be cancelled effective June 29, 2022; and
• he is not eligible to apply for reinstatement of registration with CMTBC for a period of 10 years from the date of the order, that is, until June 29, 2032.

Mr. Christopher will also pay to the College a portion of the costs of the investigation.

Given this resolution, a formal discipline hearing will not proceed.

Read Mr. Christopher’s proposal (PDF).

Read the Consent Order (PDF).

Reasons: Mr. Christopher admitted that, during a massage therapy appointment of a female patient, he:

• failed to provide options for disrobing in breach of CMTBC’s Consent Standard of Practice, although he left the treatment room for her to disrobe;
• commented on the size of her breasts which was unprofessional, inappropriate and of a personal nature to her in breach of CMTBC’s Boundaries Standard of Practice;
• made statements and inquiries with respect to her personal life, including how she met her boyfriend, which were of an unprofessional, inappropriate and of a personal nature to her in breach of CMTBC’s Boundaries Standard of Practice;
• made statements with respect to his preferences in a romantic partner, including age and body type, which were of an unprofessional, inappropriate and of a personal nature in breach of CMTBC’s Boundaries Standard of Practice;
• made statements with respect to his personal life, including online dating and his dating profile, which were of an unprofessional, inappropriate and of a personal nature in breach of CMTBC’s Boundaries Standard of Practice; and
• unbuttoned his shorts and unbuttoned and untucked his shirt prior to treatment and provided treatment with his shorts unbuttoned and his shirt untucked and unbuttoned, and removed his shoes during treatment, in breach of CMTBC’s Code of Ethics and Boundaries Standard of Practice.

The Inquiry Committee considered Mr. Christopher’s admitted conduct to be serious. The Inquiry Committee noted that Mr. Christopher agreed to cancel his registration and will not be eligible to apply for reinstatement of registration for a period of 10 years. While Mr. Christopher requested cancellation of his registration on January 6, 2020, and his resignation was accepted at that time, the Inquiry Committee considered it important to its public protection mandate that there be a formal cancellation of his CMTBC registration by disciplinary order.

The Inquiry Committee noted that if Mr. Christopher applies for registration after 10 years, he will not have an automatic right to registration; instead, his application will be addressed by the Registration Committee in accordance with section 20 of the Health Professions Act and the Bylaws of CMTBC, including as they may be amended. In the event of a future application for registration, Mr. Christopher will be required to meet all legislative and bylaw requirements relating to registration, including those relating to good character; and pursuant to section 54(5) of the CMTBC Bylaws he will be required to satisfy the Registration Committee that his registration will not pose an undue risk to public health or safety or otherwise be contrary to the public interest.