Regulator rules B.C. acupuncturist failed to prevent his employees from ‘engaging in sex work’

Photo by CTV Vancouver's Pete Cline in Chopper 9 on Monday, June 4, 2018.

A registered acupuncturist is facing disciplinary action from his professional college after failing “to take reasonable steps to ensure his employees were not engaging in sex work with patients,” among other misconduct.

A panel of the discipline committee of the College of Complementary Health Professionals of B.C. issued its decision on Yin-Jen Hsu’s liability last month, but the document was published on the college’s website this week.

The panel found that the college had proven all of its allegations against the Richmond acupuncturist. It ruled that he had:

• Failed to take reasonable steps to ensure his employees were not engaging in sex work
• Issued receipts for acupuncture services to patients who received massage services but did not receive acupuncture services
• Failed to keep adequate patient health records and patient consent to treatment forms
• Failed to keep a daily appointment log
• Failed to properly store and dispose of acupuncture needles

Disciplinary action for these findings will be taken after a future hearing, according to the decision on liability.

The college’s online directory lists Hsu as a practising acupuncturist with a licence that remains valid through March 31, 2027. His employer is listed as Yoho Body Care in Richmond.