Fort Lauderdale massage therapist Robert Brush, Jr.’s massage therapy license has been restricted due to alleged sexual misconduct in an Emergency Order issued by the Florida Department of Health Surgeon General on August 10, 2018. According to the Surgeon General, Robert Brush sexually assaulted a 48-year old female client at Hands on Health of South Florida when he put his fingers on her vagina and breasts at various times during the massage. Brush is the owner of Hands on Health, which is located at 231 Southeast 12th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
As a result of the Emergency Order, Robert Brush, Jr. may not practice massage therapy on female clients. The Order states that “Brush’s continued unrestricted practice as a massage therapist constitutes an immediate serious danger to the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and this summary procedure is fair under the circumstances to adequately protect the public. Brush has been licensed as a massage therapist since 1999. The Department of Health filed its Administrative Complaint against Brush on August 23, 2018 seeking permanent revocation of Brush’s massage therapy license.
UPDATE: In August 2019, the Department of Health announced that Robert Brush permanently surrendered his massage therapy license and agreed not to re-apply for a massage license.
All sexual contact between a massage therapist and client violates Florida law. Clients of massage therapists are placed in isolated, vulnerable settings where they can be subject to abuse by massage therapists. Due to the potential for abuse that is inherent under these circumstances, massage therapists must possess good judgment and moral character to safely practice massage therapy. Massage therapy ethics and criminal law prohibit a message therapist from abusing his professional relationship with a client by engaging or attempting to engage a patient in sexual activity outside the scope of practice.
We often see in these cases that the victims go in to a “state of shock” when unexpected sexual contact first occurs. This is normal. When a person is trying to relax in a darkened room while getting a massage, sexual assault should be the last thing that is expected. As a result, it is often traumatic and shocking and the victim is often left temporarily speechless if not immobile while processing what is occurring.
If you have a been a victim of sexual assault in a spa or during a massage, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at (954) 641-2100 or send an email to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at [email protected]