NCBTMB Professional Ethics and Standards 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client offers a massage therapist a substantial gift in exchange for discounted sessions. This situation most raises concerns about:
- Fee schedule compliance
- Bartering and dual relationship ethics (Correct answer)
- Tax reporting obligations
- Client autonomy
Correct answer: Bartering and dual relationship ethics
Accepting significant gifts in exchange for services creates a bartering arrangement that can blur professional boundaries and establish a dual relationship.
Question 2: Which of the following must be documented in a client's file after each session, according to professional standards?
- The therapist's personal observations about the client's lifestyle
- Session date, techniques used, areas treated, and client response (Correct answer)
- A full medical history update after every visit
- The client's insurance provider and policy number
Correct answer: Session date, techniques used, areas treated, and client response
Professional documentation standards require recording the date, techniques used, areas treated, and the client's response following each session.
Question 3: A massage therapist falsely advertises that their services can cure chronic diseases. This violates which ethical principle?
- Confidentiality
- Veracity (truthfulness) (Correct answer)
- Autonomy
- Non-maleficence
Correct answer: Veracity (truthfulness)
Veracity requires that massage therapists be truthful in all professional communications, including advertising; making false curative claims violates this principle.
Question 4: When a client requests that their session notes not be shared with anyone, the therapist should explain that confidentiality has legal exceptions, including:
- Requests from other healthcare providers in the same clinic
- Court orders, suspected abuse, and imminent harm to self or others (Correct answer)
- Insurance company audits and marketing research
- Employer wellness program requirements
Correct answer: Court orders, suspected abuse, and imminent harm to self or others
Legal and ethical exceptions to confidentiality include court orders, mandatory reporting of suspected abuse, and situations involving imminent danger to the client or others.
Question 5: A therapist notices a client appears to be developing a dependency on massage for emotional rather than physical reasons. The most ethical response is to:
- Increase session frequency to support the client's emotional needs
- Ignore the behavior as long as the client is paying
- Address the concern with the client and suggest additional appropriate resources such as counseling (Correct answer)
- End the therapeutic relationship without explanation
Correct answer: Address the concern with the client and suggest additional appropriate resources such as counseling
Addressing emotional dependency compassionately and referring the client to appropriate mental health support protects both the client and the professional relationship.
Question 6: A new massage therapist is unsure how to handle a complex ethical situation. Which resource is most appropriate for initial guidance?
- The client's personal physician
- The NCBTMB Code of Ethics and state licensing board (Correct answer)
- Online massage therapy forums
- Their most experienced client
Correct answer: The NCBTMB Code of Ethics and state licensing board
The NCBTMB Code of Ethics and state licensing board are the authoritative resources for resolving ethical questions in massage therapy practice.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the ethical concept of 'beneficence' in massage therapy?
- Avoiding actions that could harm the client
- Actively promoting the well-being and best interests of the client (Correct answer)
- Treating all clients equally regardless of their background
- Being truthful in all professional communications
Correct answer: Actively promoting the well-being and best interests of the client
Beneficence means actively working to benefit the client and promote their health and well-being, going beyond simply avoiding harm.
NCBTMB Professional Ethics and Standards 5
A client offers a massage therapist a substantial gift in exchange for discounted sessions.
This situation most raises concerns about: