Local chiropractor suspended after accusations he sexually harassed patients

A Puyallup chiropractor’s medical license has been suspended over allegations he sexually harassed and attempted “sexual contact” with two employees who also were patients, and made inappropriate remarks to another patient.

James C. LaHoe, 40, who runs Evolution Chiropractic, has 20 days to contest his suspension, the state Department of Health said Thursday.

LaHoe did not return a message left at the clinic Friday. A note on the front door said he was out of the office “due to family matters” and urged customers to visit another doctor in an emergency.

He has not been charged with a crime in connection with the allegations made against him.

State records show LaHoe got his chiropractic license in 2009. Earlier, he had worked as a registered nurse in several other Western states. The accusations of inappropriate conduct range from at least 2012 through 2016, the Health Department reported.

The most severe allegations come from the two employees who also were his patients. Documents outlining the state’s case for suspending LaHoe’s credential, signed by Assistant Attorney General Suzanne Becker, give these details:

One employee said LaHoe “grabbed” her by the back of the neck and tried to kiss her. She said she “needed to use force to free herself.” Once during treatment, LaHoe put his hand on her butt.

Another time, he “straddled her hips” while demonstrating how to tell whether a rib was out of alignment. The woman asked LaHoe to get off, but he did not “immediately” stop.

A second patient who had been his employee said LaHoe moved a vibrating massage therapy tool from her hips onto her vagina “several” times in 2016. He once asked if he could use it on her breasts.

Among other allegations, the woman said LaHoe kissed the side of her lips without permission, asked her to get naked in a company tanning bed and contacted her teenage stepdaughter to falsely accuse the woman of having an affair with another person at the office.

A third patient said LaHoe made inappropriate sexual comments to her, including at least once while she was pregnant.

Other workplace accusations against LaHoe include that he watched pornography at the office, according to documents. The state report says he “created a sexually charged and harassing atmosphere at the office.”

Online records from the states where LaHoe worked as a nurse before coming to Washington do not show a disciplinary history.

A woman who worked at the clinic got a temporary restraining order against LaHoe in February, alleging she had been traumatized and threatened by his alleged misconduct, Pierce County court records show.

This story was originally published August 5, 2017 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Local chiropractor suspended after accusations he sexually harassed patients."