Ethical dilemmas. What would you do?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maria Troia on October 7, 2009 at 6:16pm

Nate,

Would you be conferring with the neurologist apart from his session time? So long as the conversation doesn't happen during his session time and so long as he is agreeable, I see no conflict. Of course the client's privacy must be protected.

It constitutes something of a dual relationship, but these can be managed between professionals when handled appropriately.

Maria Troia, MSEd, LMT, NCTMB, CH
www.kiraholistic.com

Permalink Reply by Nate Ewert on October 8, 2009 at 8:06am

Maria,
I think you hit the nail on the head. If this happens away from the session there is no real problem. I have heard stories of these power differential issues happening during sessions though.

I wanted to start this discussion becuse there are many ethical issues we deal with as MT's. Not just sexual in nature.

To everyone,

Please post your ethical questions here!

Permalink Reply by Marilyn St.John on October 13, 2009 at 6:37am

I think I would be inclined to ask the doc's advice for literary resources pertaining to nerve damage & only add more specifics if necessary about the problem/location & see what information he gives me, taking into consideration how well I knew the doc in the first place. (i.e., is he a regular client whom I know very well and will likely return?) Some people just don't like to have their "brains picked" in the first place, so it depends on my relationship with the doc...and always outside of the session for which he's paying me. Of course, how will his information then be utilized for my nerve-damaged client? Unless my intention is to just have deeper understanding for my own education, any suggestion he gives me could eventually become a liability if it falls outside my particular scope of practice...but now I'm nit-picking.

Permalink Reply by Nate Ewert on October 13, 2009 at 9:45am

You all have brought up great points! And Marilyn, I don't think you are nit-picking.

I brought up the topic of power differential in one of the posts. This seems to be one of the more obscure ethical issuses. I think it gets manipulated more than some of us realize. Does anyone have any examples of possible ways the power differential can be abused inadvertantley?

Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on October 27, 2009 at 5:05pm

I've never asked any of the doctors who come to us for advice during their visits to the office. I have called them to consult, though, and none of them have ever acted like I was infringing upon them.

The main reason I have called on a doctor is because of someone having an obscure condition that I couldn't find enough information on to know whether it was contraindicated, not because I have any intent of going out of scope of practice.

Permalink Reply by lee kalpin on December 1, 2009 at 3:49pm

It is inappropriate if it happens in the context of a massage appointment. If the neurologist is in your office as a client, that is HIS time and he should be spending it having his own massage, not giving out free advice.
If you call him outside of his appointment time, for a medical consultation, you can ask him advice as long as you do not give the client's name, and as long as he is willing to give of his time - he would be well within his rights to ask for payment for his time.
It would be a breach of confidentiality if you gave the client's name or any details that would reveal the identity of the client.

Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on December 17, 2009 at 11:31am

I wouldn't do it and think it is a very big conflict even if done out of the massage session. The neurologist is a client and deserves your undivided and full presence. Making the session or even later discussion about someone else is unprofessional. If you need advice on a client you should go to the clients doctor directly.

Julie
www.massage-career-guides.com

Permalink Reply by Nate Ewert on December 17, 2009 at 12:16pm

Here is another one.

A client comes in and asks for a full body swedish. Everything is going great. When you get to their legs you notice they left their socks on. At that point you take off their socks so you can give them a foot massage as part of their full body session. Doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but what are you violating?

(this happened in the first massage I ever recieved, before even thinking of becoming a massage therapist.)

Permalink Reply by lee kalpin on December 23, 2009 at 4:13pm

Before commencing a massage, I do an Informed Consent, which consists of telling the client about the massage, and what areas of the body I would like to treat. I give the client options, and ask for any questions, and whether or not they consent to this proposed treatment. If the client does not care to have the feet massaged, he could express it at that time and I would not touch the feet. If the client neglected to tell me in advance and I then found that the socks were on, I would ask if he wants to have his feet massaged and give him the option of massaging through the socks, or offer to take the socks off for him - or not to massage the feet at all.
A client has asked for a "full body" massage does not necessarily know what parts of the body that might entail. We should never take for granted, and should not remove clothing unless the client asks us to..

Nate Ewert said:

Here is another one.

A client comes in and asks for a full body swedish. Everything is going great. When you get to their legs you notice they left their socks on. At that point you take off their socks so you can give them a foot massage as part of their full body session. Doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but what are you violating?

(this happened in the first massage I ever recieved, before even thinking of becoming a massage therapist.)