A registered massage therapist who also offered acupuncture, cupping and reflexology, among other services, has been reprimanded by a B.C. regulator for practising “outside the scope of practice of massage therapy.” Aaron Chew consented to a discipline order against him on Sept. 2. The document was published on the College of Complementary Health Professionals of B.C. website earlier this week. According to the order, the college began investigating Chew in February 2025 and informed him of its investigation in October of that year. A panel of the college’s inquiry committee concluded it had reasonable grounds to believe Chew had practised outside his scope, the order reads. Specifically, the panel found that Chew performed “gua sha” during massage therapy treatments provided to an undercover investigator. He also performed acupressure on multiple patients, according to the discipline order. The panel also concluded that Chew had “failed to make and keep adequate patient records” and continued advertising services outside the defined scope of practice for massage therapists during the investigation. Under the order, Chew admitted that he had engaged in the specified misconduct and agreed to a reprimand from the college. The document specifies that Chew advertised the following services that were outside the scope of practice on his website: Chew agreed to an undertaking not to repeat the misconduct, to review the current CCHPBC bylaws and professional standards, and to “attend a meeting with a college practice advisor to discuss the massage therapy scope of practice, record-keeping standards, and strategies and tools the respondent can implement in order to meet the required standards,” according to the order. The document indicates the first meeting with the practice advisor must occur within three months of the date of the order, and the advisor may require Chew to attend additional meetings as necessary.
