Massage therapist Brent Rowland is facing disciplinaary action from the B.C. College of Massage Therapists.
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June 16, 2020 - 6:30 PM
A Penticton massage therapist has been prohibited from treating female patients by the College of Massage Therapists.
The college announced it was imposing a limit on Brent Rowland’s practice of massage therapy after investigating complaints from the public, which included allegations Rowland engaged in sexting images and texts with a third party during massage therapy appointments and viewing females patients’ disrobed bodies when lifting the draping sheet as patients turned over.
The college’s inquiry panel was satisfied there is a prima facie case of sexual misconduct in relation to the two allegations noted above and considered Rowland to present a risk of harm to patients if he were allowed to continue without restriction.
The panel also found Rowland’s actions presented a prima facie case of conduct unbecoming in relation to a separate allegation but the panel did not see this allegation as a threat or risk of harm to patients.
"There have been some very unfortunate allegations made against me. They are allegations only and no investigation of them has been completed. I understand the need for the College to err on the side of caution when protecting the public interest. That is their job,” Rowland said in an email statement issued this afternoon, June 16.
"I sincerely regret that the College has found it necessary to act in such a way in this instance. I know that many people assume that anyone accused of a wrongdoing is automatically guilty. All I can say is that I plan to cooperate fully with the investigation, and I hope it can proceed as quickly as possible."
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