Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 345 - RULES OF GEORGIA BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPY
Chapter 345-6 - PROFESSIONAL AND UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Rule 345-6-.01 - Professional and Unprofessional Conduct
Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 345-6-.01
Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1) Georgia Licensed Massage Therapists shall:
(a) Comply with recognized
professional standards for the practice of massage therapy and client quality
of care.
(b) Represent professional
qualifications truthfully and accurately, including education and professional
affiliations, and provide only those services that the practitioner is
qualified by education, experience, and skill to perform within recognized
professional standards for the practice of massage therapy.
(c) Accurately inform clients, other health
care practitioners, and the public about the scope and limitations of the
practice of massage therapy, including the limitations of and contraindications
for massage therapy.
(d) Refer
clients to appropriate health professionals when treatment needed by the client
is beyond the scope of massage therapy practice according to recognized
professional standards.
(e) Perform
massage therapy only after the client has given written informed and voluntary
consent that is signed by the client or, if the client is a minor, signed by
the client's guardian, parent, or authorized third party.
(f) Immediately comply with the client's
expressed request to refuse, modify, or terminate the performance of massage
therapy, regardless of any prior consent.
(g) Provide draping and treatment consistent
with client safety, comfort, and privacy in compliance with recognized
professional standards of massage therapy practice.
(h) Refuse to treat any person or part of the
body if such treatment is not lawful, does not comply with recognized
professional standards of massage therapy practice, or is not in the best
interest of the client.
(i) Not
violate client boundaries regarding privacy, disclosure of personal
information, physical exposure, nudity, or sexual activity.
(j) Not accept any gifts, compensation, or
benefits that are intended to influence a referral, decision, or treatment that
is not within recognized professional standards of massage therapy practice,
including treatment that is not in the best interest of the client.
(2) Unprofessional conduct shall also include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Practicing massage therapy without a
valid license or with an expired license;
(b) Failing to comply with requirements for
professional continuing education;
(c) Performing any act which knowingly aids,
assists, procures, advises or encourages an unlicensed person to practice
massage therapy.
(d) Failing to
display a massage therapist's license certificate issued by the Board, or a
photocopy thereof, in an appropriate and public manner easily and readily
available for public view at each location the licensee practices;
(e) Violation of, or noncompliance with, any
of the following:
1. The Georgia Massage
Therapy Practice Act;
2. Any
statutes, ordinances, or rules pertaining to the practice of massage
therapy;
3. Rules promulgated by
the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy;
4. Any Consent Agreement entered into with
the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy or other licensing board or agency;
and
5. Any Order issued by the
Georgia Board of Massage Therapy or other licensing board or agency.
(f) Failing to maintain
appropriate records and to safeguard the confidentiality of records regarding
clients, their treatment, their personal information, and client referral to
other medical or health professionals, unless disclosure or release of such
confidential information is requested by the client in writing or is required
by law.
(g) Falsifying, altering,
destroying, or changing records in contemplation of an investigation by the
board, a governmental office, regulating agency, or lawsuit filed by a
patient.
(h) Using improper or
unfair measures or false information to draw patronage from the practice of
another massage therapy licensee.
(i) Initiating or engaging or in any sexual
conduct, sexual activities, or sexualizing behavior involving a client or
pertaining to the practice of massage therapy.
(j) Knowingly making misleading, deceptive,
untrue or fraudulent representations in an application for licensure,
reinstatement, or licensure renewal filed with the board, in a document
pertaining to the practice of massage therapy, the filing of any insurance
claim, or in any document in connection therewith.
(k) Discriminating against clients on the
basis of gender, age, race, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual
preference.
O.C.G.A. Secs. 43-1-10, 43-1-19, 43-1-24, 43-1-25, 43-24A-2, 43-24A-3, 43-24A-7, 43-24A-8, 43-24-A-10, 43-24A-13, 43-24A-14, 43-24A-15, 43-24A-17, 43-24A-20, 43-24A-22, 50-13-3.
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