Akari Yokokawa

The Member brought a motion in a disciplinary proceeding seeking to dismiss a notice of hearing, exclude evidence obtained during an undercover investigation, and obtain disclosure of an investigative file concerning another member.

The Member argued he had no obligation to cooperate with an investigation into another member.

The Discipline Committee dismissed the motion, finding that the duty to cooperate under the Health Professions Procedural Code applies even when the member is not the subject of the investigation.

The Committee also found the College had reasonable and probable grounds to commence the investigation and declined to exclude evidence or order further disclosure at the preliminary stage.

The College sought to withdraw the allegations contained in a Notice of Hearing against the member because the member had passed away.

The Discipline Committee granted the withdrawal, noting that it was not in the public interest to require a hearing given the member's death.

The member admitted to engaging in professional misconduct by practising acupuncture and holding herself out as a registered member while her certificate of registration was suspended.

She also admitted to obstructing a College investigator and failing to cooperate with the investigation.

The Discipline Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering the immediate revocation of her certificate of registration, a reprimand, and $4,000 in costs, with an extended 90-day period to pay due to financial difficulties.