Patient sues Burnaby acupuncturist over alleged sexual assault

A female patient is claiming she was sexually assaulted by her registered acupuncturist at least five times at his Burnaby clinic.

The patient, who is identified only by initials in her lawsuit, says she had been examined or treated by Myung June Kim at the KIM Acupuncture and Pain Clinic on North Road since 2016 for injuries arising from a motor vehicle crash.

Kim told her he was a qualified medical doctor from Korea, and was never seen by her at the clinic without a gold-coloured name tag pinned to his chest stating “Dr. M.J. Kim” in bold, black letters, according to a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court.

In July 2019, the patient says, she went to see Kim for continuing pain in relation to the crash and he told her she had fibromyalgia, and that it was an incurable disease when treated by western doctors but was curable using acupuncture.

Around that time, Kim committed sexual assault and sexual harassment on the plaintiff at least five times, according to the lawsuit.

He allegedly pulled her pants and underwear down to her thighs without consent or warning and touched her private parts before placing multiple acupuncture needles in the area. She claims he commented upon the shape and size of her thighs in comparison to his own.

On another occasion, he allegedly lowered her clothing to her thighs without consent or warning and later positioned his hands between her legs immediately adjacent to her genital region and asked if she was menstruating.

He is also alleged to have penetrated her with his fingers and then removed his fingers before leaving the room smiling and laughing.

No response has yet been filed to the lawsuit, which contains allegations that have not been tested in court.