Professional Ethics, Communication, and Client Rights
Domain 9 tests professional conduct: scope of practice, informed consent, confidentiality, boundaries, and respectful communication.
Core rules and concepts
- Stay within scope. A massage therapist does not diagnose disease, prescribe medication, perform spinal manipulation without separate training, or present massage as a substitute for medical care.
- Respect client rights: privacy, dignity, informed consent, refusal, a chaperone when requested, and freedom from discrimination.
- Maintain professional boundaries. Draping is mandatory, sexual contact is prohibited, and dual relationships should be avoided. If a client requests inappropriate service, decline clearly, document, and end the session if the behavior continues.
- Protect confidentiality in conversation, records, and social media. Do not post client photos or case details without written consent.
- Communicate plainly: active listening, open questions, teach-back, and clear explanations of what you will do and why.
Worked example
A client asks the therapist to remove the drape and work on the groin. Reasoning: this is outside the agreed scope and violates professional boundaries. The therapist declines, restates the treatment plan, and offers to continue only within the consented areas. If the request is repeated, the session ends, payment and incident are documented, and the clinic policy is followed.
Traps
Diagnosing a client's shoulder pain, discussing a client in a public area, accepting a barter arrangement that creates a dual relationship, and posting treatment photos without consent. Another trap is continuing a session after consent is withdrawn.