RI Massage Therapist’s License Revoked After Multiple Enforcement Actions

RI Massage Therapist’s License Revoked After Multiple Enforcement Actions

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has revoked the license of a licensed massage therapist after repeated allegations and suspensions.

Anthony Conti has now lost his license to practice in Rhode Island.

“Based on the pleadings, the exhibits, and the testimony, it is undisputed that the Respondent initiated sexual contact and engaged in sexual conduct and activity with the Client without her consent. He digitally penetrated the Client's vagina without consent for the purpose of his sexual gratification," wrote the RIDOH in its order to revoke his license.

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The latest enforcement action was signed on December 1, 2023.

Conti was hit by the RIDOH in September of 2023. It was the second time that he was sanctioned by the agency.

Conti, who had been suspended in 2022 for having sex with a patient, was suspended again in September after a patient said Conti “while engaging in the practice of massage therapy, inappropriately touched [their] buttocks and genitals at a facility in Warwick."

“The Department has credible evidence that on or about September 1, 2023,  [Conti] violated the massage therapy statute [under Rhode Island General Laws] by inappropriately touching the buttocks and genitals of Patient A while providing massage therapy services," stated RIDOH. 

Conti was suspended for 90 days in the September ruling.

“The Director of RIDOH has reviewed the faces and conclusions in this case and further finds that public health, safety, or welfare imperatively requires emergency action,” stated RIDOH. 

As GoLocal reported in December of 2022

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has suspended the license of a massage practitioner in the state — for having sex with a patient. 

RIDOH announced in 2022 that massage therapist Anthony Conti’s license is now subject to a three-month period of suspension, during which time he will be required to complete “six hours of continuing education on the topics of Ethics and Boundaries, from a source acceptable to RIDOH.”

 

RIDOH's Findings in 2022

The “Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law” in the RIDOH consent decree state that on or about July 28, 2022, while providing professional massage therapy services, Conti “had sexual intercourse with Patient A in violation of Standard V(e) and Standard VI(a) of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Standards of Practice…of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Code of Ethics.”

According to RIDOH, the conduct constitutes unprofessional conduct pursuant to the Massage Therapy Practice Act and Massage Therapist Rules. 

Conti waived a right to a hearing by signing the decree. 

In addition to the ethics training, Conti will be required to attend psychotherapy sessions if he wishes to petition to have his license reinstated.

Should his license be reinstated, he would be subject to a one-year period of probation, during which he would face additional training requirements. 

The decree was signed by Bruce Todesco, the Center for Professional Boards and Licensing.