A yellow light means caution There are many drivers who challenge every yellow light on the road by hitting the gas pedal to make sure they make it before they see it turn red. This behavior has caused fatal accidents just as it will cause trouble when the therapist disrespects the yellow light at boundary crossings. A situation can quickly become blurry regarding professional boundaries. The best prevention to crossing forbidden boundaries is to be on the alert and recognize when the light turns yellow. Professionals are more intelligent than they let on when an opposite sex patient makes moves to change the relationship with the massage therapist. These are not times to plead innocence and continue speeding or edging toward that yellow light on the verge of turning red, meaning it’s too late. There are professional reasons to determine whether the patient is someone a massage therapist takes on as a client. The reasons to choose a client are if the professional can positively treat the client with high chances of an advantageous outcome. The choice of clients must have nothing to do with his or her looks, age, or place in society. If the massage therapist believes that he or she has the expertise, knowledge, and technique to help the client, that is sufficient cause to select the patient (CSHBC, 2011). If the massage therapist feels defensive about a relationship with a client or finds himself or herself making excuses or simply hiding a relationship from peers in the field, know that the green light just started flashing yellow (CSHBC, 2011). Privacy is important for a client, but privacy of another nature is also important for the massage therapist. Sharing personal things with a client and giving a home phone number or email are crossing the boundary of professionalism. If a client requests either of those, know the yellow light is taking shape down the road (CSHBC, 2011).
● The therapist is charged with maintaining appropriate boundaries in all circumstances. ● Client undresses and dresses in private. ● Client has a clear choice as to being clothed or nude but draped during the treatment. ● Therapist never massages the genital area, the anus area, or the nipple area. ● Therapist uses the hands, arms, elbows, and feet to massage a client. ● Therapist uses only the knee side aspect of the hip and lower leg for bracing. ● Therapist uses appropriate draping procedures. ● Therapist refrains from flirting or creating a flirtatious atmosphere (Benjamin, 1990). ● Therapist uses appropriate clinical terminology when speaking about body parts to the client. ● Therapist does not remark about the client’s body in a sexual manner. ● Therapist only remarks about the massage procedure if the client is experiencing discomfort or other benign remarks. ● Therapist seeks informed consent from the client to work on certain parts of the body (Benjamin, 1990). Elements of informed consent ● Information : Therapist provides information regarding the nature of the proposed treatment and the location and duration of treatment. ● Treatment directives : Therapist gives the proposed treatment. ● Expected results : Therapist and client create a shared objective for the outcome of the treatment. ● Clients choices: Therapist provides the client with a sense of free choice to accept or reject the treatment plan and give suggestions (Benjamin, 1990).
ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING
making rash decisions and instead leads to thoughtful discernment, which directs one to mobilize toward a disciplined decision. Determining the facts takes more than evaluating and considering the surface facts, which are obvious. Determining the facts involves digging down to the next level of facts, then the next level, so that you have a 360-degree view of the facts related to the situation. It is important to consider consequences and to filter all decision choices in order to determine if any of them violate core ethical values. Individuals who will be impacted by the decision must also be considered. After the decision is made, it is the responsibility of the decision maker to monitor the effects of the decision. If the decision has undesirable results, it is then time to reassess the situation and make new decisions (UC San Diego, 2022). Philosophers and their ethical theories Ethics or moral philosophy, a branch of philosophy, involves the defense and recommendation of right and wrong conduct or behavior. The moral philosophy or ethics field has various contributing philosophers. The moral philosophers have made the largest contribution to what we now know as the ethical foundation. Philosophers have divided ethical theories into three areas: ● Metaethics. ● Normative ethics. ● Applied ethics.
Ethical decision-making is the process of evaluating and choosing ethical options versus unethical options and then selecting the best ethical alternative that follows the ethical principles of the individual making the decision. The process of making ethical decisions requires: ● Commitment to do the right thing regardless. ● Consciousness to act consistently with his or her moral convictions. ● Competency to collect and evaluate information and alternatives and understand possible consequences and risks. Just because an individual is required to make an ethical decision does not mean that he or she makes a decision which is in some way wrong, ineffective, or awkward. Ethical decisions generate and sustain trust and fairness with a foundation for creating more effective ground rules for behavior. Ethical decisions are effective at accomplishing what is wanted to advance one’s purpose, not a choice that produces undesirable or ineffective results. When seeking the path to an ethical decision, an individual must understand the difference between immediate and short- term goals and longer-range goals. The decision made in an ethical fashion may not attain one’s short-term goal. In other words, some personal gain or satisfaction may have to be sacrificed in the short term in order to remain ethical in purpose (UC San Diego, 2022). Making ethical choices requires the decision-maker to stop and think, clarify goals, and determine the facts before pulling the trigger on a decision. This prohibits one from
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