BONITA SPRINGS, Fla., - Three Bonita Springs massage therapists arrested and charged with performing sex acts for money are still legally allowed to work in the state of Florida, according to the Department of Health.
Zhang Xiuying, Yin Baohua, and Shunzi Li were charged last month following an undercover investigation by the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
The Department of Health says there are no active investigations into the three.
"A top priority for the Florida Department of Health in administering any disciplinary action against a licensed practitioner is always patient safety. Additionally, we must follow the due process of law in order to ensure that the rights and entitlements of all parties to any action are given due consideration," said Brad Dalton, a spokesperson with the Florida Department of Health.
The Divsion of Medical Quality Assurance says their enforcement process requires a complaint to the Department. If that complaint reaches the investigation stage, then it's brought to a 10 person panel who determines if there is probable cause. If they make it past that stage, then discipline or a settlement may be reached. If not, the case is dismissed altogether. That's what happend with the three.
"It really affects the professionalism of massage therapist which is what we're trying to uphold," said Jenny Wiser, owner of Beauty and Massage School in Bonita Springs.
All three have active licenses through 2017 according to the Department of Health website.
