Former massage therapist banned from profession for 20 years for misconduct

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Warning: This story contains details readers may find disturbing

A former registered massage therapist in Vancouver is not allowed to apply to have her licence reinstated for 20 years after admitting to several instances of misconduct.

Zannah Steiner entered a consent resolution with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of B.C. earlier this month, agreeing to a formal reprimand, an undertaking not to repeat the misconduct, and the inability to apply for reinstatement.

The terms stem from a complaint by a patient submitted on Jan. 10, 2022, shortly after Steiner allowed her registration to lapse on Dec. 31, 2021.

In the agreement, the college says Steiner admitted she failed to keep her treatment area clean and “failed to apply adequate measures to prevent infection and disease.”

She also admitted to videotaping the patient without explaining the exact reasons for doing so or going through and reviewing the consent form.

Steiner “failed to differentiate between her massage therapy and osteopathic practices” and “inserted a finger, hand or instrument beyond a patient’s labia majora,” according to the agreement.

A number of other instances of misconduct outlined in the document relate to improper communication, including a “failure to be aware and responsive to any indication the complainant wished to ask questions, or to modify or end the treatment” and “failure to act in the best interests of the complainant and communicate in an appropriate manner and only disclose personal information to the complainant to the extent required for the provision of patient-centred care.”

In addition, Steiner failed “to recommend or deliver only treatment that can reasonably be expected to provide a benefit to the patient’s health.

The college said the massage therapist’s conduct goes against its bylaws for professional and ethical obligations, undermined public trust and compromised patient safety.

If Steiner chooses to re-apply for registration in 20 years, she must complete a course on professional ethics and pay $500 in investigative costs. If her application is successful, her practice will be subject to random audits for two years.

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• Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis lines: [phone] or [phone] (24/7)
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• Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre for current and former Canadian Armed Forces members: [phone]
• Read about your rights as a victim on the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime website.