COLLEGE OF MASSAGE THERAPISTS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT

General Duty to Patients
A Registrant shall:

• Act in the best interest of a patient,
• Only provide a treatment if the Registrant has a reasonable expectation that it will be of benefit to a patient,
• Only provide massage therapy treatments that fall within the scope of practice of massage therapy, as defined in the regulation.

A Registrant shall not take advantage of a patient's vulnerabilities for the registrant's sexual, emotional, political, or financial interest or benefit.

A Registrant shall not contravene the Human Rights Act or the Human Rights Code, as amended from time to time.

A Registrant shall not refuse to treat a patient unless:

• The patient's condition renders the treatment unsafe, unnecessary or not beneficial to the patient,
• The patient asks the Registrant to perform an illegal or unethical act,
• There is a conflict of interest between the Registrant and the patient, which cannot be resolved in accordance with the "Conflict of Interest" section of this Code,
• There is incompatibility of character between the Registrant and the patient,
• The patient loses confidence in the Registrant, or
• The patient fails to satisfy a statement of account for services rendered within 15 days or after 3 treatments.

Sexual Conduct Prohibited
A Registrant shall not:

• Engage in sexual conduct with a patient,
• Engage in sexual conduct with a former patient or student within one year of termination of a therapeutic or teaching relationship, or
• Make an inquiry into a patient's sexual history, unless such an inquiry is directly related to the assessment or treatment of the patient's condition.

General Duty to the Public
A Registrant shall:

• Comply with all Federal, Provincial and Municipal laws and regulations pertaining to the business and practice of massage therapy, and
• Act in an honest, professional and courteous manner towards all persons.

General Duty to the Professions
A Registrant shall uphold and advance the honour, dignity and credibility of the profession and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall:

• Use his/her knowledge and skill to improve the health and well being of others,
• Respect the honour, dignity and credibility of other professionals,
• Promote harmonious working relationships with other professionals,
• Refrain from undue criticism of the qualifications or the therapies provided by other Registrants or Licensed Practitioners,
• Avoid competition for patients or professional services by methods that adversely affect the honour, dignity or credibility of the profession,
• Avoid comparing his/her competence or patient outcomes to those of other Registrants or Licensed Practitioners,
• Refrain from entering into a contract with any person or organization that diminishes the honour, dignity or credibility of the profession,
• Abide by the Human Rights Act and Human Rights Code, as amended from time to time, in any dealings with Licensed Practitioners and other Registrants, including selection of a Locum.

Reporting of Registrants
A Registrant shall promptly file a written report with the Chair of the Inquiry Committee if a Registrant has reasonable grounds to believe that another Registrant has:

• Committed an act of Professional Misconduct,
•  Engaged in Sexual Conduct with a patient, or with a former patient, within one year of termination of massage therapy,
• Practiced the profession while the Registrant's ability to do so was impaired by drugs, alcohol, a physical or mental ailment, emotional disturbance, or addiction to any substance,
• Engaged in any unsafe, unethical or illegal activity related to the practice of massage therapy, or
• Permitted his/her office or clinic to be used for an unlawful purpose.

Guarantees of a Cure Prohibited
A Registrant shall not claim that a treatment, or use of certain equipment, will provide a cure, nor shall a Registrant guarantee therapeutic value to a patient.

Practicing if Impaired Prohibited
A Registrant shall not practice massage therapy when the Registrant's ability to practice is impaired by drugs, alcohol, a physical or mental ailment, emotional disturbance or addiction to any substance.

Conflict of Interest
A Registrant shall make every effort to avoid a conflict of interest while providing massage therapy or carrying out any other professional duty.

Notwithstanding the above, where a Registrant is in a conflict of interest with a patient, that Registrant shall:

• Immediately disclose the nature of that conflict to the patient,
• Document this disclosure, and
• Resolve the conflict of interest in consultation with the patient, whether by terminating the therapeutic relationship with the patient or otherwise.

For further information on the Code of Ethical Conduct or Standards of Practice of Massage Therapists in British Columbia please contact the College of Massage Therapists of BC.