Chapter 2: Ethics for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork 4 CEUs
By: Danielle Almendinger Learning objectives
After completing this course, the learner will be able to: Identify the principles of the professional Code of Ethics from the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), and the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP). List and define five standards of practice from the AMTA, the ABMP and the NCBTMB, and give an example of each standard. Course overview This course emphasizes the principles and standards of ethical practice for massage therapy and bodywork, and ethical issues that impact the professional in daily practice. The course includes steps to identify potential ethical conflicts, and strategies for ethical decision-making to avoid and resolve Implicit bias in healthcare Implicit bias significantly affects how healthcare professionals perceive and make treatment decisions, ultimately resulting in disparities in health outcomes. These biases, often unconscious and unintentional, can shape behavior and produce differences in medical care along various lines, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and socioeconomic status. Healthcare disparities stemming from implicit bias can manifest in several ways. For example, a healthcare provider might unconsciously give less attention to a patient or make assumptions about their medical needs based on race, gender, or age. The unconscious assumptions can lead to delayed or inadequate care, misdiagnoses, or inappropriate treatments, all of which can adversely impact health outcomes. Addressing
Explain the concepts of power dynamics, transference and counter transference related to the scope of practice in massage and bodywork. List five key elements of documentation and records maintenance, including the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Define the risks involved with dual or multiple-role relationships between therapists and clients and list four strategies that reinforce appropriate boundaries. Explain the relationship between patient autonomy and therapist/client agreements, including the client’s bill of rights, informed consent, and right to refuse treatment. ethical issues before they become problematic. The components of informed consent, documentation and records maintenance, establishing boundaries, and collaboration with supervisors and colleagues for integrated healthcare, are detailed based on ethical standards of best practice. implicit bias in healthcare is crucial for achieving equity in medical treatment. Strategies to combat these biases involve education and awareness programs for healthcare professionals. These programs help individuals recognize and acknowledge their biases, fostering a more empathetic and unbiased approach to patient care. Additionally, implementing policies and procedures prioritizing equitable treatment for all patients can play a pivotal role in reducing healthcare disparities. Ultimately, confronting implicit bias in healthcare is essential to creating a more just and equitable healthcare system where everyone receives fair and equal treatment regardless of their background or characteristics.
INTRODUCTION
Ethics is a part of philosophy that deals with systematic approaches to moral issues and problems; ethics refers to the rules or principles that govern right conduct and includes the study of morality (Dail, 2012). Professional massage and bodywork therapists have the responsibility to practice according to ethical principles and standards of conduct set by their professional, educational, and certification organizations. Professional relationships with clients involve setting clear boundaries that must be upheld for the safety of the therapist and client. Boundaries allow a therapist to work within his or her scope of practice based on education, training and certification following the code of ethics and professional standards. Within the practice of massage therapy
and bodywork, ethical dilemmas may arise and therefore sound and ethical decision making skills must be developed. Ethical practice involves technical competence and knowledge in the specific areas of massage and bodywork. A professional therapist offers significant mental and physical health benefits to a client based on competency gained through education, certification or licensure, and experience. The practice of massage and bodywork are integrated into many multidisciplinary approaches to mental and physical health today. The professional practitioner has the added responsibility to understand a variety of massage and bodywork modalities that can effectively treat a wide variety of mental and physical disorders. points toward beneficial effects of integrative healthcare in a variety of situations (NCCIH, 2016). These benefits include pain management for military personnel and veterans, relief of symptoms in cancer patients and survivors, programs to promote healthy behaviors, and symptoms associated with a number of medical conditions (NCCIH, 2016). Research evidence has documented positive short term effects and if clients continue massage and body work care health benefits may continue (NCCIH, 2016).
The National Institute of Health on benefits of massage (NIH) The use of integrative approaches to health and wellness has grown within healthcare settings across the United States with more than 30 percent of adults and about 12 percent of children using health care approaches developed outside of mainstream Western or conventional medicine (National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health, 2016). The 2016 National Center for Complementary, and Integrated Health (NCCIH), a division of the National Institute of Health (NIH), notes that scientific research on massage therapy and bodywork is in the preliminary stage, but significant evidence
EliteLearning.com/Massage-Therapists
Book Code: MLA1224
Page 14
Powered by FlippingBook