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A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Malpractice
Business & Marketing

A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Malpractice

Author(s): Jennifer Flynn

2CE credits 8 Lessons Text

Learn how you can protect yourself from legal malpractice action. Even the best massage therapists make mistakes or are perceived by a client as having caused injury through their professional services. This course includes actions you should take if you suspect you’ll be sued — or if it comes to pass that you are actually sued.

This course has language specific to the AMTA liability insurance offered to members. If you're not an AMTA member, you should verify this information with your provider. Learn more about becoming an AMTA member.

Note: The information contained in this course is intended to provide a general overview of actions to take in the event of a malpractice lawsuit.

Learn what you can do to safeguard yourself and your practice in the face of a malpractice lawsuit. When you finish this course you will be able to:

  • Explain the value of maintaining an objective view during a malpractice lawsuit.
  • Define when clients sue.
  • Cite a legal description of malpractice.
  • Describe the four forms of malpractice negligence.
  • Identify the first step to take in the event of an adverse incident.
  • List four guidelines for making incident reports.
  • State two goals of a malpractice investigation.
  • Describe two ways to decrease the stress of an investigation through each of legal, self-care and self-protection means.
  • Delineate three useful ways to participate in a malpractice investigation.
  • Review five ways to mitigate the blame attached to you in a malpractice lawsuit.

Learn more about the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Positions, Standards, Guidelines, Policies and Procedures.  

This course has language that is specific to the AMTA liability insurance offered to members. If you are not an AMTA member, you should verify this information with your provider. Get more information about AMTA membership.


  1. When You Make a Mistake
  2. Reporting an Incident
  3. Incident Report Confidentiality
  4. Your Management of and Response to an Investigation
  5. Considerations for a Malpractice Lawsuit
  6. Malpractice Negligence
  7. Participating in your Defense
  8. Mitigation Defense Strategies

Jennifer Flynn is Manager for Aon/Affinity Insurance Services, Inc., Healthcare Division, specializing in risk management. Having worked in the healthcare insurance business for over 10 years, she is dedicated to educating healthcare professionals on professional liability risks and offers strategies to mitigate those risks. She has presented at professional organization meetings on healthcare risk management and other insurance related topics.