Confidentiality And The Massage Therapist

Confidentiality is very important to you as a massage therapy student and as a massage therapist.

As a student intern, you will access hundreds of client records. You should not randomly go through them if there are no clients waiting. These are client medical records and are highly restricted. You must treat them as you would want your own medical records treated--with respect and as highly privileged information.

Anything you see on a client record should be kept secret. Do not share this information with your spouse, your family, your best friend. Unless it is absolutely necessary at your school, do not even share the information with another intern. This is privileged information that may not be shared.

Sharing privileged information while you are in school can get you kicked out. Sharing it while working for someone else can get you fired. Sharing privileged information while having your own massage business can cost you clients.

You will get a reputation for not keeping confidences.

No one will trust you if you participate in the unethical practice of sharing restricted information. Also, there is the threat of a lawsuit by a client who finds out that you have divulged his/her medical information.

The only exceptions to this rule of confidentiality are:

1. If the client gives you written permission to share his/her medical information with a third party, like another medical professional, attorney, or the client's insurance company.

2. If keeping information private will cause harm to someone such as if the client tells you he/she is feeling suicidal or is going to hurt someone else.

3. If you are required to report cases of communicable disease to your health department.

Remember--Respect your clients and they will take good care of you.

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