The Health Department on Friday pulled the license of chiropractor Pedro DeAlmeida after an 18-year-old patient reported that he kissed her and massaged her "bottom" during treatment for neck pain.

According to the summary suspension order, DeAlmeida, who practices at 1190 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence, also sent the patient text messages over her objections -- including one sent Thursday, two hours after a Health Department investigator had visited his office and told him that an investigation was under way.

The department had received one other complaint about DeAlmeida, 30, but it was anonymous so there was not enough information to launch an investigation, said spokeswoman Annemarie Beardsworth.

The incident involving the 18-year-old happened on or about Aug. 27. In a private examination room, DeAlmeida engaged in "inappropriate and unprofessional" conversation before he "massaged the young patient's 'bottom' and then turned her over and began kissing her," the order stated. He followed her to her car and "pressed her to take his cell phone number which he wrote on the back of his business card."

A summary suspension means that the license was taken away without a hearing because the chiropractor's continuation in practice "constitutes an imminent threat to the health, welfare and safety of the public." His suspension will continue indefinitely, but he can request a hearing by Sept. 15.

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