Chiropractor under police investigation over allegations of voyeurism

A Winnipeg chiropractor is under police investigation after hidden cameras were found in treatment rooms, capturing one woman's bare breasts on video, say search warrant documents obtained by CBC News.

Winnipeg police searched Robert Stitt's Portage Avenue office in January over allegations of voyeurism, after the Manitoba Chiropractors Association alerted authorities to the concealed cameras, say applications filed in court. 

"The victim(s) are believed to all be past or present clients … who were captured in various stages of undress by hidden cameras" in chiropractor Dr. Robert Stitt's office, the documents say.

Police seized five fake sprinkler heads that concealed cameras plus a recording device in a suspended ceiling at the Natural Wellness Chiropractic Centre in January, the search warrant documents say. 

Former Ontario privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian said patients in any medical setting expect privacy when being treated, unless patients consent in writing.

"I would be outraged, as would most people, to know that there was a camera actually on while I'm being treated and I'm not aware of it, and my consent has not been obtained — no transparency, no consent, no privacy," said Cavoukian, who served as Ontario's privacy commissioner for three terms. 

The Manitoba Chiropractors Association, which regulates chiropractors, got involved after receiving a complaint of inappropriate touching from a female patient, says an affidavit filed by Winnipeg police Const. Phillip Cole. 

During a phone call, Stitt told Dr. Gerald Chartier, the MCA investigator, that he had a video recording of his interaction with the patient that would exonerate him of any wrongdoing, the affidavit says.  

Chartier went to Stitt's office to speak with him and reinstate his licence, it says.

Typical practice is to suspend a chiropractor's licence for seven days while the association looks into the allegations, the document says.

When browsing the video files for the recording of the patient who complained about inappropriate touching, Chartier observed up to three different women disrobing, including one who was facing the camera with her breasts exposed, the affidavit says.

Stitt, who was interviewed by Chartier, told him that he had not sought permission from patients to video record them but later said he obtained verbal permission, according to the search warrant documents. 

There was no signage alerting patients that they were being video recorded, the court documents say.

Chartier observed numerous cameras set up in the treatment rooms, the affidavit says.