Acupuncturist who sexually assaulted patients banned from registering with regulatory college for 30 years

A former registered acupuncturist, Mario Luis Ibarra, who sexually assaulted two of his patients, has been deemed ineligible to apply for reinstatement of his registration for a period of 30 years. The College of Complementary Health Professionals of B.C. (CCHPBC) released a disciplinary notice stating that Ibarra will not be able to seek reinstatement until July 1, 2055.

This decision comes following Ibarra’s guilty plea to two counts of sexual assault, for which he received a two-year less a day jail sentence to be served in the community, along with three years of probation. Additionally, he was handed a five-year ban from providing any complementary health services involving physical contact with individuals and was ordered to be on a sex offender registry for 20 years.

Ibarra was previously regulated by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia before its merger with the CCHPBC in June 2024. The CCHPBC now oversees various professions including chiropractors and registered massage therapists.

The disciplinary notice revealed that Ibarra’s registration had already been terminated after he failed to renew it by March 31, 2024. If he chooses to reapply for registration after the 30-year period, he must complete courses on ethics and respecting boundaries as mandated by the college’s registrar or registration committee. Additionally, he must fulfill all legislative and bylaw requirements related to registration, including demonstrating good character and ensuring public safety.

Moreover, Ibarra is obligated to pay $3,000 to the CCHPBC for the investigation conducted into his case.

The victims of Ibarra’s assaults have expressed their struggles in rebuilding their lives and condemned his actions as “disgusting and inexcusable.” They have also criticized the regulator for not alerting the public about Ibarra’s misconduct, allowing him to continue practicing for years after the assaults.

The college initiated an investigation into Ibarra in 2022 but suspended it until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings. After Ibarra’s sentencing in February, the investigation was transferred to the CCHPBC’s Inquiry Committee for review.

In its notice, the committee described Ibarra’s admitted conduct as “extremely serious” and emphasized that the imposed order serves to protect patient safety by preventing Ibarra from practicing as an acupuncturist in British Columbia.