Unlicensed B.C. Acupuncturist Found in Contempt After Patient Films Unauthorized Treatments

A Richmond, B.C., acupuncturist has been found in contempt of court after a patient secretly filmed him administering unauthorized treatments, marking the latest chapter in a long-standing legal battle against unlicensed practices by Wai Cheong Chik.

The patient, a young woman undergoing treatment for severe eczema, described painful experiences during her sessions with Chik, who explained that he was “twisting the needles.” This unsettling experience led her to return with a concealed camera, recording evidence that later convinced a B.C. Supreme Court judge of Chik’s contempt for an injunction banning him from practicing acupuncture without a license since 2016.

Justice H. William Veenstra ruled last week that the video and statements by Chik’s neighbors confirmed his continued defiance of the injunction. Chik's illegal practice was previously investigated in 2019, when surveillance revealed a steady flow of clients and acupuncture supplies in his possession. Yet, lacking direct patient testimony, the court was unable to prove his unauthorized practice conclusively at the time.

Chik initially applied to B.C.’s College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists in 2000 but was denied registration. He claimed to have learned acupuncture in China, where he worked as a doctor before moving to Canada.

Following the 2016 injunction, reports and witness accounts described suspicious activity at his residence. In recent months, neighbors noticed a renewed influx of high-end vehicles outside Chik’s $2.8 million home, prompting additional scrutiny. Surveillance footage revealed that Chik disposed of bags containing medical supplies, including needles and syringes, into garbage bins at dawn.

While Chik’s legal team argued that the needles used in the footage could not be verified as acupuncture needles, Justice Veenstra ruled that their purpose aligned with regulatory definitions of acupuncture, confirming Chik’s unauthorized practice.

The court will determine Chik’s penalty for contempt, which could include fines or jail time, at a later hearing.