A CHIROPRACTOR who allegedly failed to respect a patient’s dignity during a painful buttock massage has been suspended.

Peter McCann, of Beneficial Chiropractic Clinic, in Blackwell Lane, Darlington, has been given an interim suspension order by the General Chiropractic Council (GCC), meaning he cannot practice as, or describe himself as a chiropractor, while the order is in force.

He was suspended following a hearing on February 5, after a patient complained to the GCC about treatment she received at the clinic on September 15.

A report prepared by the professional conduct committee of the GCC said that Mr McCann allegedly pulled the patient’s knickers down, squirted gel on to her buttocks and gave her a deep buttock massage without prior warning or consent.

“It is alleged that when she said it was very painful he told her to bite into the bed,” the report continued.

“It is alleged that throughout this time, he stood very close to the couch with his crotch resting on the couch.

“It is alleged that his actions failed to respect the patient’s dignity, were not clinically justified, tended to bring the profession into disrepute and/or were sexually motivated.”

The hearing, which was held in Mr McCann’s absence, found that there was a real risk of significant harm to patients if an interim suspension order was not made.

The committee took into account that in October, Mr McCann told the GCC that he intended to always have a chaperone present when seeing female patients.

However, they said the committee has no power to enforce or monitor such an undertaking and, as a result, does not regard it as a sufficient safeguard against reputation.

Mr McCann was also given a two-month interim suspension order on November 18 after four other patients complained about their treatment.

When contacted by The Northern Echo, Mr McCann said he continues to vigorously deny all allegations that his actions were sexually motivated, and said everything he did was in the patient’s best interests.

"I am very distressed that they (the GCC) did not see it that way," he added. “I am deeply disappointed that the GCC have taken this decision, especially in the light of their own expert witness confirming that the lowering and/or undoing of clothing and the treatments I performed were those expected of a reasonable chiropractor.

“I did not perform any actions that I was not taught at Chiropractic College or an accredited CPD course.”

The suspension will continue until the committee reaches a final decision on the allegation.