Ethics & Laws – Introduction to ethics
Introduction to Ethics
What to Expect in the Ethics Section of the Course
The ethics section of the MBLEx Course follows the MBLEx Content Outline:
- Ethical behavior and principles
- Laws and regulations related to massage and bodywork
- Scope of practice
- Code of ethics violations including sexual misconduct
- The therapeutic relationship, professional boundaries and dual relationships
- Professional communication and confidentiality
You can expect to see a lot of explanations of important ethics concepts, and definitions for key terms related to these topics, which all tie into the massage therapy profession. The Ethics & Laws section is 16% of the MBLEx, so you will need to have a solid understanding of the relevant concepts, principles and terminology presented here.
The Ethical Massage Therapist
The following are examples of ethical behavior for a massage therapist:
- Always does what is in the client’s best interest
- Works within his or her scope of practice
- Only works within the limits of his/her own competency
- Works within the limits of the client’s informed consent
- Provides clients with realistic expectations of treatment outcome
- Educates the clients on limitations of massage therapy
Key Terminology and Definitions for Lesson 1
Ethics are rules for good or correct behavior. They are moral principles and rules that provide guidance to an individual or a group. Ethics can be developed to address the needs and issues faced in different contexts. For example, medical ethics, social ethics, and business ethics.
Principles are a rules, values, standards, or basic truths that serve as a guide for behavior.
- Always does what is in the client’s best interest
- Works within his or her scope of practice
- Only works within the limits of his/her own competency
- Works within the limits of the client’s informed consent
- Provides clients with realistic expectations of treatment outcome
- Educates the clients on limitations of massage therapy
Ethics are rules for good behavior.
ethical behavior
scope of practice; limits of competency