Rule 345-6-.01 - Professional and Unprofessional Conduct(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; and5. 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.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 345-6-.01
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.
Original Rule entitled "Licensure by Reciprocity" adopted. F. July 5, 2007; eff. July 25, 2007.Repealed: F. Sept. 9, 2008; eff. Sept. 29, 2008.Amended: New Rule entitled "Professional and Unprofessional Conduct" adopted. F. Nov. 3, 2010; eff. Nov. 23, 2010.Note: Correction of non-substantive typographical error in sub-paragraph (2)(c),"message" corrected to "massage", as requested by the Agency. Effective August 5, 2016.