North Vancouver massage therapist suspended for not wearing mask

A North Vancouver massage therapist has been suspended by the College of Massage Therapists of B.C. for not wearing a mask, not pre-screening patients for COVID and allegedly making “sexualized” and “unprofessional” comments during massage appointments.

Connor Son, who formerly worked at Edgemont Massage Therapy in Edgemont Village, was suspended by the college “to protect the public” while complaints against him are investigated.

According to a notice published by the college Feb. 26, a woman who was a patient of Son’s made a complaint on Dec. 12, 2020 alleging Son was unmasked throughout her massage appointment and “engaged in unprofessional communications of a sexualized nature.”

Two undercover massage college investigators subsequently made appointments with Son, posing as patients, and reported that Son did not wear a mask for some or all of the appointment. Son also “performed out of scope services without consent” on one of the investigators and failed to conduct pre-screening for COVID symptoms as required, according to the college.

It isn’t the first time Son’s actions have come to the attention of the college.

Four previous complaints under investigation include concerns about Son advertising services “outside the scope of practice for RMTs in B.C.”, a complaint from another female patient alleging “unprofessional communications” and practising outside the scope of massage therapists, and concerns about Son’s record-keeping.

The inquiry committee of the college found there was a strong basis of the allegations, Son’s conduct “is likely to recur” and there “is a real risk of harm to patients and colleagues” if Son was allowed to continue practising without restriction.

Son has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, meaning he can no longer practice as a massage therapist in B.C.

In an old profile on the Edgemont Massage Therapy website that has since been taken down, Son wrote, “I combine my understanding of body mechanics, strength training, and a motivational outlook to my registered massage therapy practice.”

He listed “neuro kinetic therapy,” “amino neuro frequency therapy,” “adaptive body work structural integration” and the “Voila method” as among his therapies.

Son’s website profile listed him as a graduate of a massage therapy school in Toronto. He was registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario in 2015 but has since resigned, according to their public registry. Son was registered as a massage therapist in B.C. in April 2016.