State Suspends Chiropractor for Allegedly Kissing and Texting Patient

The Rhode Island Department of Health and its Board of Chiropractic Examiners has suspended the license of an East Providence chiropractor for allegedly inappropriate conduct with one of his female patients.

Health Director Michael Fine released the statement Friday afternoon, a day after the latest alleged interaction between chiropractor Pedro DeAlmeida and the 18-year-old woman.

According to a complaint filed by the department of health, DeAlmeida, whose business is located at 1190 Pawtucket Ave., Suite 1A, treated the woman for neck pain on Saturday, Aug. 27. She alleges that he engaged in conversation that was inappropriate and unprofessional, that he massaged the woman’s “bottom” and that her turned her over and began kissing her.

As the woman was preparing to leave, he allegedly kissed her again and suggested they should get together again, then followed her to her car and insisted she take his cell phone number, which he wrote on the back of his business card. Shortly after, he allegedly sent a text message asking her to meet him, to which she replied: “Please don’t contact me.”

He allegedly continued texting her, including Thursday, two hours after he was interviewed by a health department investigator.

The health department suspended his license with the following statement: “The Director of Health has determined that the continuation of the license of Pedro DeAlmeida as a chiropractic physician constitutes an imminent threat to the health, welfare and safety of the public.”

The suspension will continue indefinitely. DeAlmeida has the right to request a hearing on the matter.