subject: Ethics And Professionalism For A Massage Therapist [print this page] Ethics and professionalism can be defined as aspirational and inspirational model standards of exemplary professional conduct. It cannot be seen as restrictions and limitations for a therapist but a goal towards which a Vancouver Massage Therapist should constantly strive.
A massage therapist should follow the following set of guidelines to be deemed as a professional in this field.
"Demonstrate commitment towards delivering high quality of massage therapy.
"The therapist should always project a professional image in front of its patients and provide professional assistance.
"Should cause no harm to the physical, mental and emotional well-being of the patients and other clients.
"Accept the responsibility of keeping the patient"s medical records confidential and should respect the relationship of a patient and a therapist.
"Should try to achieve professional excellence through constant self-assessment and updating about the latest developments in the field.
In addition to the above mentioned set of guidelines to be a professional Vancouver Massage Therapist,there are certain rules of ethics or standards of minimally acceptable professional behavior that should be followed at all times. If a therapist is found neglecting these set of guidelines than he/she might get their license revoked and have to pay a hefty fine.
"Commitment to professional and personal boundaries. A professional therapist should refrain from any type of personal relationship with his/her patients. He/she should avoid any type of contact with the patient once the therapy is over.
"Be truthful in marketing and advertising. A therapist should not misrepresent his/her services, charges, experience and ability to results. A misleading advertisement will leave the patient unsatisfied and will have a dampening effect on the profession of massage therapy.
"Honest representation of qualifications.Massage therapist should only provide treatment and techniques for which he"s fully trained, equipped and hold credible credentials. Massage therapist should carefully evaluate the needs of each client and refer the client to some other therapist if the client requires work beyond his/her capabilities or beyond the capacity of massage. A good massage therapist should acknowledge the limitations of massage therapy.
"Commitment to informed consent. A therapist should acknowledge the patient"s right to determine what happens to his/her body. A therapist should always inform the client about all the options available to him/her, this will help the client to reach an informed decision.
"Commitment towards not discriminating any patient. As a professional therapist, one is expected not to discriminate any patient on the basis of sex, race, color or economic background.
"Commitment to honesty in business.A massage therapist should charge fair fees and be honest with his/her marketing tactics. He/she should follow the guidelines laid by the government, pay the taxes on time and shouldn"t accept any gifts or other favors from the client or the patient.
These standard guidelines for professionalism and ethics in the field of massage therapy ensure the optimal level of service and ensure that therapists strive for excellence in their practice. Therapists are responsible for showing and maintaining professional compliance with the Standards of Practice.
