Other Legislation for RMTs

Law & Standards/Other Legislation for RMTs

Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act

The Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act (the Consent Act ) sets out a patient’s right to give or refuse consent to health care, defines what constitutes “consent”, and articulates the obligation of health care providers – including massage therapists – to obtain consent for treatment. The Ministry of Heath has published a guide to the Consent Act (PDF). Registrants should also be aware that the CMTBC Consent Standard of Practice defines expectations for RMTs in terms of how to obtain consent from patients for delivery of massage therapy

Infants Act

The Infants Act sets out the requirements for obtaining consent from a minor or “infant” (legally defined as an individual under the age of 19 years). The Infants Act defines the conditions under which infants (minors) are legally able to consent to their own medical treatment. Registrants should also be aware that the CMTBC Consent Standard of Practice defines expectations for RMTs in terms of how to obtain consent from patients for delivery of massage therapy

Personal Information Protection Act

The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) is legislation that applies to the great majority of RMTs in British Columbia. It sets out the general rules that apply to the protection of patients’ personal information, and the obligations of registrants to maintain patient confidentiality and privacy. The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has published a guide to PIPA(PDF). Registrants should also be aware of Schedule ‘E’ to the College’s Bylaws, which sets out registrants’ obligations to abide by all applicable legal requirements regarding privacy and confidentiality, including PIPA.