Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real LMT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics & Professional Standards flashcards as text
A client asks the therapist to tell them whether their back pain is caused by a herniated disc. What should the therapist do?
Answer: Explain that diagnosis is outside the massage scope of practice and refer to a physician
Diagnosing medical conditions is outside the scope of massage therapy practice.
Midway through a session, a client says they no longer want their glutes worked on, although they agreed earlier. What should the therapist do?
Answer: Stop work on that area right away and respect the withdrawn consent
Informed consent is ongoing, so the client can withdraw it at any time.
In which situation may a therapist ethically refuse to provide or continue a massage?
Answer: The client is visibly intoxicated or makes sexual advances
Therapists may refuse service for safety or misconduct reasons, but never on discriminatory grounds.
A client makes a sexually suggestive comment during a session. What is the best first step?
Answer: Stop the session, state the boundary clearly, and end the session if the behavior continues
Stopping and clearly restating boundaries addresses the behavior and protects the therapist; document the incident too.
Which recommendation is outside a massage therapist's scope of practice?
Answer: Prescribing specific dietary supplement dosages
Prescribing supplements or doses goes beyond massage therapy training and scope.
A therapist decides they can no longer work effectively with a long-term client. What is the most ethical way to end the relationship?
Answer: Explain the decision professionally and give referrals to other qualified therapists
Ethical termination is honest and makes sure the client can continue care through referrals.
Which principle limits a therapist's right to refuse service?
Answer: Non-discrimination
Therapists can't refuse clients based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, or sexual orientation.