Nature of Action: Pursuant to section 35(1)(b) of the Health Professions Act (the “Act”), on January 18, 2019 the Inquiry Committee made an order suspending the registration of Steven Anderson.

This replaces a previous order of the Inquiry Committee made on December 14, 2018, restricting Mr. Anderson’s practice subject to certain limits/conditions. Those limits/conditions included that:

1. Mr. Anderson was required to have a chaperone present at all times during the consultation, assessment, examination or treatment of female patients, whether it occurred at his clinic, in the patient’s home, or otherwise outside his clinic, and
2. Mr. Anderson could not perform treatment to the obturator internus muscle on female patients.

Reasons: The College received a complaint from a female patient alleging that Mr. Anderson engaged in sexual misconduct during the provision of massage therapy to her, by engaging in non-therapeutic touching of a sensitive area of the patient’s body. The College also received a second complaint from a different female patient, alleging that Mr. Anderson engaged in sexual misconduct during the provision of massage therapy to her by engaging in non-therapeutic touching of sensitive areas of the patient’s body.

The Inquiry Committee is also investigating an allegation that Mr. Anderson performed massage therapy in a manner which involved inserting a finger into a male patient’s anus (which is outside the scope of practice for massage therapy).

In its January 18, 2019 order, a panel of the Inquiry Committee was satisfied that there is a prima facie case of risk to the public which requires that the public be protected by an interim order during the investigation of these matters. The Inquiry Committee was satisfied that a suspension of Mr. Anderson’s registration is the least restrictive measure that is proportionate to the risk from which the panel is seeking to protect the public.  

Important Note: Limits, conditions and suspensions ordered by the Inquiry Committee under section 35(1) of the Act are made to protect the public during an investigation or pending a hearing of the Discipline Committee. Measures taken under section 35(1) of the Act pertain to matters which are and remain unproven unless admitted by a registrant or determined by the Discipline Committee.