Ming Cha

The member, a registered traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and acupuncturist, faced allegations of professional misconduct relating to improper billing and record-keeping.

According to an Agreed Statement of Facts, the member provided false or misleading receipts for massage therapy and acupuncture treatments, including to an undercover College investigator, and failed to maintain adequate patient records.

The Discipline Committee found the member committed professional misconduct.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand, a three-month suspension, terms and conditions requiring ethics and record-keeping courses, practice assessments, and $3,500 in costs.

The Member faced allegations of professional misconduct for issuing a false receipt for acupuncture services when the patient actually received massage therapy, and for failing to maintain a daily appointment log.

The Member admitted to the allegations.

The Discipline Committee found the Member committed professional misconduct and accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a six-month suspension (three months suspended upon completion of conditions), coursework, a practice assessment, and $2,500 in costs.

The College brought a motion to stay professional misconduct proceedings against the Member on the basis of an Undertaking and Surrender Agreement.

The Member agreed to surrender his Certificate of Registration, forever withdraw from practice in any jurisdiction, refrain from using the title 'Dr.', and contribute $750 towards investigation costs.

The Discipline Committee found that granting the stay was in the public interest, as the public would be protected by the terms of the agreement and the transparency of the process.

The College brought a motion to stay discipline proceedings against the member, who faced allegations of professional misconduct including failing to cooperate with an investigation, falsifying records, and submitting false accounts.

The motion was based on an Undertaking and Surrender Agreement in which the member agreed to surrender his certificate of registration, never practice traditional Chinese medicine or acupuncture in Canada or the US, and pay $3,000 in costs.

The Discipline Committee granted the motion, finding that the stay of proceedings and the member's undertaking protected the public interest.