● Refuse to diagnose possible medical conditions, and instead refer the client or patient to a physician for a proper assessment. ● Maintain and continue to develop skills through regularly scheduled continuing education classes. Regarding business practices, a massage therapist shall: ● Provide therapy regardless of a client or patient’s gender or ethnicity. ● Provide a safe and secure setting that meets local and state health code regulations. ● Maintain adequate liability insurance in accordance with local and state laws. ● Maintain accurate records that pertain to appointments, billing, taxes, and legal obligations. ● Keep confidential all client or patient information, except when required by law enforcement officials. ● Securely store and destroy when necessary all client or patient files. ● Honestly and accurately represent experience and credentials as well as services when advertising and marketing. ● Refrain from any and all illicit, illegal, or prohibited activity. ● Conduct business transactions with honesty and integrity, disclosing fees for services clearly and concisely. ● File all applicable state and federal taxes. ● Refrain from the defamation of other therapists and health and wellness providers. ● Treat all coworkers, employers, and employees with respect. ● Clearly define the expectations of employees with a precise job description and internal company policies (if having employees). Regarding client/patient interactions, a massage therapist shall: ● Act in a manner conducive to the best interests of the client or patient while safeguarding the reputation of the massage profession. ● Ask only for information that is relevant to the practice of massage or a course of therapy. ● Respect a client or patient’s privacy by not disclosing sensitive information discussed during therapy. ● Refuse to engage in any and all sexual relations with a client or patient unless such a relationship exists prior to the onset of therapy. ● Refrain from providing therapy when either the therapist or client/patient is under the influence of drugs or alcohol (except for prescription drugs). ● Refrain from providing therapy if a client or patient is physically or emotionally abusive in any respect. ● Refuse any and all gifts that are intended to influence a course of therapy or that result in personal gain. ● Retain the right to refuse therapy for reasonable causes, such as unwanted sexual advances made by the client. power over the client (National Ethics Committee of Veteran Health Administration, 2003). Massage therapists treat individuals ethically not only by respecting their decisions and protecting them from harm but also by making efforts to secure their well-being. Such treatment falls under the principle of beneficence. The term “beneficence” is often understood to cover acts of kindness or charity that go beyond strict obligation. In this context, beneficence is understood in a stronger sense, as an obligation. Two general rules have been formulated as complementary expressions of beneficent actions in
associations to ensure quality and integrity in the profession (Thiroux & Krasemann, 2014). Because virtually all state licensing authorities, certifying/ accrediting agencies, and professional associations establish their own standards of conduct and ethical guidelines for their members, massage therapists need to refer directly to the organizations and academic or training institutions with which they are affiliated, as well as state, local, and national associations, to review the ethical guidelines that apply. This course is based on standards of ethical behavior embodied in both the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, and common to the ethical codes of other agencies regulating massage therapy (AMTA, 2010). A code of ethics states the ethical responsibilities of the massage and bodywork professional. Standards of practice further establish the expectations of professional conduct in regard to the law, confidentiality, business practices, roles and boundaries, and prevention of misconduct (NCBTMB, 2017). This course intends to clarify the meaning of statements and concepts central to the ethical practice of massage therapy. Broadly speaking, the code of ethics for massage therapists covers three areas of concern: ● Self-conduct in relation to performing a massage. ● Self-conduct in business dealings. ● Self-conduct when interacting with clients both in a professional setting and within the public arena. What follows is a generalized code of ethics for massage therapists based upon the ethical standards set forth by many professional massage therapy schools, professional massage therapy organizations, and massage licensing boards (AMBP, 2022; AMTA, 2010). Regarding the practice of massage, massage therapists shall: ● Provide the highest quality massage therapy for clients or patients seeking a professional service. ● Practice only techniques they are trained, qualified, or otherwise certified to perform. ● Project a professional appearance by being punctual, well-groomed, free of odors, and wearing clean clothes. ● Accurately inform a client or patient about the intended course of therapy and acquire their consent prior to the massage. ● Properly drape or cover clients or patients to ensure their safety and comfort in accordance with local and state laws. ● Provide therapy only in regard to what clients or patients request and respect their desire to stop therapy at any time for any reason. ● Withhold therapy for a client or patient if a medical condition indicates possible contraindications. The practitioner-client relationship The nature of the practitioner-client relationship is a fiduciary one. This means the client trusts that the practitioner will act in the client’s best interests, and it is the practitioner’s duty to do so. This concept is central to professional practice and the therapeutic relationship. While the practitioner and client share the same primary concern and objective—the client’s welfare—it is the practitioner, by virtue of their professional status, who is ultimately responsible for the client’s safety, security, and well-being. Practitioners also bear the burden of accountability because they are often viewed by the client as being in a position of authority or
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Book Code: MFL1227
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