Professional Ethics and Laws Flashcards
7 cards from real Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Ethics and Laws flashcards as text
A massage therapist is offered a commission by a supplement company for recommending their products to clients. What is the primary ethical concern?
Answer: It creates a conflict of interest that could compromise client-centered care
Accepting commissions for recommending products creates a financial conflict of interest that may lead to recommendations based on profit rather than client benefit.
What does the principle of veracity require of a massage therapist?
Answer: To maintain client records with accurate and truthful documentation
Veracity is the ethical principle of honesty and truthfulness, which applies to all professional communications including documentation.
A client begins sharing detailed information about a traumatic past experience during a session. The most ethical response is to:
Answer: Listen briefly, acknowledge their feelings, and gently redirect focus to the bodywork
Acknowledging the client's feelings while redirecting to the therapeutic work maintains boundaries without dismissing the client's experience.
Which of the following is a mandatory reporting requirement for massage therapists in most US states?
Answer: Reporting suspected child abuse or neglect to appropriate authorities
Most states require healthcare workers, including massage therapists, to report suspected child abuse or neglect as mandated reporters.
A massage therapist disagrees with a client's personal lifestyle choices. How should this affect the quality of care provided?
Answer: It should not affect care; the therapist must provide equal quality of service to all clients
Professional ethics require that therapists provide equal quality of care regardless of personal beliefs or judgments about clients' lifestyles.
When is it appropriate for a massage therapist to break confidentiality without a court order?
Answer: When the client presents a credible threat of serious harm to themselves or others
Duty to warn allows confidentiality to be broken when a client poses an imminent and credible threat of serious harm to themselves or identifiable others.
A massage therapist's license has expired but they continue to see clients. This situation is best described as:
Answer: Unauthorized practice that violates state law and professional ethics
Practicing massage therapy without a current, valid license is illegal and constitutes a serious ethical violation regardless of the reason for the lapse.