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Professionalism & Ethics

Professionalism & Ethics. Week 3 – Massage A Tutor – Eleshia Howell. Ethics and professionalism are very important to the Massage Practitioner and help to determine ethical decision making. A profession is different to a job, and a professional does more than go to work.

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Professionalism & Ethics

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  1. Professionalism & Ethics Week 3 – Massage A Tutor – Eleshia Howell

  2. Ethics and professionalism are very important to the Massage Practitioner and help to determine ethical decision making. A profession is different to a job, and a professional does more than go to work. A professional has the following characteristics: • A specialised body of knowledge • Extensive training • An orientation towards service • A commonly accepted code of ethics • Legal recognitions through certification • A professional association. (p30 Fritz, 3rd Edition)

  3. Professionalism Massage therapy is part of the healthcare profession – to be respected and accepted as a valid modality in the complementary health field, it is important to present a professional image. The professional conduct and behaviour of a Massage Therapist conveys: • Respect amongst colleagues, allied health care providers, clients • Proficiency in skill / knowledge • The authority to practice within your scope of training • Orientation towards the delivery of service

  4. Recognition by professional associations and licensing bodies. Presenting a professional persona includes: • Appearance • Work environment • Language – spoken, body language, communication skills • Ethical practice, integrity • Responsible and respectful conduct • Continued education • Participation in community events

  5. Ethics Ethics defines the behaviour we expect of ourselves and others, and society’s expectations of a profession. In other words.....what is right? This naturally varies from person to person, but when it comes the expectations of a profession, ethics are guidelines based on principles of conduct established by a group. Ethics has social, professional and personal dimensions, which are not always easy to differentiate. Therefore, ethical behaviour is a dynamic process of reflection and revision.

  6. Ethical Principles • Respect – self, other professionals, clients • Client autonomy & self determination – informed consent, right to accept / refuse treatment • Veracity – honesty,objective truth • Proportionality – benefit must outweigh the burden of treatment • Nonmaleficence – do no harm, prevent harm • Beneficence – treatment should contribute to the person’s wellbeing • Confidentiality – privacy of information • Justice - equality

  7. Code of Ethics • Code of Ethics describes the professional conduct expected of therapists to preserve and enhance their reputation, as well as the general reputation of the massage industry as a whole. All professional associations will have a code of ethics for a practitioner to abide by. • See example of AMT Code of Ethics, as well as p45 Fritz 3rd Edition.

  8. Standards of Practice • Standards of Practice provides specific guidelines and rules that form a concrete professional structure, including quality of care, safe work practices, operational procedures and compliance with legal requirements. • Provide a means of measuring quality care • Usually more concrete than ethical principles. • See example of AAMT Code/Standard.

  9. Scope of Practice • Scope of Practice defines the parameters of what services a practitioner can and cannot provide, in accordance with qualifications and level of training. Each profession has a specific knowledge / information base from which it works; however, there is often a shared methodology between various professions which has the capacity to blur the lines between modalities. As the common aim is often to provide a client with the best available treatment techniques, it does not justify breaching the parameters by which your qualification is defined, infringing upon the statutes of other registered professions, eg Medical Doctor, Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Osteopathy.

  10. A massage therapist can NOT: • Diagnose disease, illness or medical conditions • Order special tests, egxray, blood tests, ultrasound, MRI • Refer to specialist medical practitioners • Prescribe medication • Perform spinal manipulation • Perform surgery • Mislead a client or the general public, by offering to cure illnesses or pathological diseases • Perform treatment techniques not included within the qualification(s) held.

  11. Breaching the above parameters can result in: • Action by a registration board, eg Medical Board • Voiding of professional indemnity insurance • Termination of membership with professional association / health fund provide status • Legal proceedings – professional misconduct, civil action. ***

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