A nurse practitioner in Canada is facing an investigation after allegedly offering to have sex with a male patient, claiming it was important for his health and well-being.
Lori Chern, who runs a men’s health practice in Kamloops, British Columbia, is accused of making inappropriate advances towards the patient during a medical assessment at her home in August.
According to a complaint lodged with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), Chern sat close to the patient while checking his blood pressure and allegedly made flirtatious remarks.
She reportedly complimented his physique and vital signs, telling him that his heart rate and blood pressure were impressive and that he appeared to have the health of an 18-year-old.
The complaint further alleged that Chern then brought up the subject of sex, telling the patient that it was important for men to maintain good health.
“Sex was very important for a man to regulate himself and be in good health,” she allegedly told him before offering to have sex.
Even after the patient declined, Chern allegedly told him he could contact her outside working hours if he changed his mind.
The man subsequently lodged a complaint with the nursing regulator, submitting screenshots of text messages exchanged between them as supporting evidence.
He also accused Chern of failing to complete the necessary medical documentation following his referral by a pharmacist.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Chern’s practice focuses on health and wellness services for men aged over 40.
She also regularly shares medical advice on social media, including videos demonstrating how men can administer testosterone injections. In one video, she shows viewers how to inject themselves into the side of the hip rather than the buttocks.
The allegations have prompted an investigation by the BCCNM, which has imposed restrictions on Chern’s nursing practice.
While the investigation is ongoing, she has reportedly been restricted to working in hospital settings, according to local media outlet CFJC Today.
The allegations have not been proven, and the regulatory order indicates that Chern denies any sexual misconduct.
Separately, the case comes amid another controversy involving a healthcare professional accused of sexual misconduct with a patient.
British nurse Jason Forde, 56, was extradited from Barbados to the United Kingdom after being charged with unlawful sexual activity involving a woman with a mental disorder.
Court documents alleged that Forde had intercourse with the woman at Homerton Hospital in Hackney during the 2000s while she was receiving treatment for a mental disorder.
He was also accused of engaging in other sexual activity with the woman while she was under his care.
