The Ethical Implications of Research and Education in the Massage Therapy Profession

As a therapist operating my own practice, I am constantly reminded of the ethical aspects of my work in dealing with situations involving clients and the everyday running of my business. Professional boundaries and ethical practices are recognized within our profession as an important aspect of our work, as evidenced by mandatory classes on ethics in most U.S. states and also by the clearly stated ethical codes and practices set out by our professional organizations. The reasoning behind these measures is clear. Ethical declarations and a thorough understanding of them and their application are needed. They set standards of integrity. They help to define massage therapy as a profession and have significant repercussions on how massage therapists are perceived by the public.