● 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.
Self-Assessment Quiz Question #1 Regarding business practices, all of the following are appropriate except: a. File all applicable state and federal taxes. b. Refrain from engaging in all illicit and illegal activities. c. Provide therapy solely for the gender of the therapist’s choice. d. Refrain from the defamation of other therapists.
THE PRACTITIONER-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP
The principle of beneficence requires massage therapists to do good or what will further the patient’s interest. The principle of nonmaleficence requires massage therapists to avoid harm to the patient, or what would be against the patient’s interests. Both principles rest on the fundamental importance of what is in the patient’s interest. The first is the positive requirement to further the patient’s interest. The second is the requirement to refrain from doing what damages the patient’s interest. Different claims covered by the principle of beneficence may come into conflict and force difficult choices (Sohnen-Moe & Benjamin, 2013). Ideally, therapists’ relationship and interactions with clients is a partnership that promotes healthy behaviors; leads to sound, informed, healthcare decisions; and ensures the client’s voice is heard. The client’s best interests should always be the therapist’s primary goal and the guide for all actions and decisions. If therapists ever suspect they are acting out of an unhealthy need or motive, or feel the interactions or relationships with the client are impeding rather than facilitating the therapeutic process, they should seek assistance and/or supervision. Massage therapists can consult a professional massage therapy organization for guidance, supervision, and other professional resources (Allen, 2019). The following sections discuss key points of ethical massage therapy practice in more detail. Once massage therapists successfully complete an approved training course, written examination (state and/or national), and, in some cases, a practical evaluation, they are deemed competent in the subject area of massage therapy despite the fact that specific skills, training, and knowledge base may be very different from that of other practitioners. Licensing agencies and professional societies establish standards of quality and professional expertise in the field and ensure that licensed individuals keep pace with recent developments through continuing education requirements (Sohnen-Moe & Benjamin, 2013). Massage therapists who choose to provide services they are not appropriately trained or competent in make a dangerous personal decision that undermines the profession and may carry weighty legal implications. Personal levels of discretion and ethical standards will largely determine the manner in which massage therapists advertise their services, describe their education and professional experience, and list credentials. Therapists must decide if they can rightfully claim substantive experience in a discipline for which they’ve attended a three-hour workshop or watched a series of instructional videos, or when they can properly call themselves an expert in one modality or another (DiSilvio, 2023).
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 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 this sense: (1) do not harm and (2) maximize possible benefits and minimize possible harms (beneficence and nonmaleficence) (Shmerling, 2020). Accountability Professional organizations protect public safety by certifying the competence of their members through licensing and continuing education requirements. Accreditation and professional affiliations maintain quality control and show accountability to clients, colleagues, and the profession as a whole. They confirm that massage therapists abide by prevailing health and safety standards, conduct themselves in accordance with relevant legislation and/or professional regulations, and possess the specialized knowledge and skills in their field (Sohnen-Moe & Benjamin, 2013). Scope of practice Scope of practice refers to massage therapists’ area of competence, usually obtained through formal study, training, and/or professional experience, and one for which they’ve received certification or other proof of qualification. Unlike other standardized training programs or fields of study, schools of professional massage therapy and state requirements vary significantly in the number of necessary hours of study and curriculum. Some schools provide substantial training in specialized procedures, such as lymphatic-drainage techniques or hydrotherapy, while others may only touch upon these subjects, if they are discussed at all (Calvert, 2002).
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Book Code: MFL1225B
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