Regina chiropractor accused of sexually assaulting women testifies he asks patients for consent

WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.

A Regina chiropractor accused of sexually assaulting seven women in his care testified in his own defence Thursday, telling a jury he would get consent before touching his patients.

Ruben Manz told the court he would get patients to fill out forms and ask for consent before working on sensitive areas of the body, including the chest and buttocks.

"If we want to examine that area, I would tell them exactly where it is, so they know what's going on," said the 49-year-old said, who has pleaded not guilty.

"And then [I would]ask them if they're comfortable with that. And if they say yes, I would proceed."

He testified if he needed to work on women's chests, he would get them to move their breasts over, andif patients told him they were uncomfortable, he would stop.

"I've never required a patient to take off their bra," Manz said.

Manz is on trial atCourt of King's Bench in Regina, accused of sexually assaulting the women between 2010 and 2020.

The complainants have testified Manz pulled or touched their breasts while he was stretching their necks.

The Crown has argued Manz was given access to the women by virtue of his role as their trusted medical caregiver and that he betrayed that trust by touching them sexually for no legitimate medical purpose.

'Neck stretch' treatments were legitimate: defence

Defence lawyer Blaine Beaven argued Thursday the type of neck stretch Manz performed is part of legitimate chiropractic treatment.

Beaven told the jury Manz is presumed innocent unless they decide otherwise, and that the jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt to find the chiropractor guilty.

"We listen to people and in our mind we decide, based on everything we've seen here, do we believe them or not?" Beaven said.

Manz wiped tears from his eyes when asked about his family.

"I have two children. I have my daughter here, who was born in 2002," and a sonwho was born in 2005, he told court.

The trial, which began on Nov. 4, is scheduled to continue into next week.Justice Janet McMurtryis presiding.

For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services via theEnding Violence Association of Canada database. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.