MSTP211 – Session 11 Activity and Discussion

MSTP211 – Session 11 Activity and Discussion Instructions Read the following case study and then, based on the Australian Association of Massage Therapists (AAMT) Guide for the Prevention and Management of Sexual Misconduct, answer the questions below. Case Study Marika Kahawai is a successful manual therapist who sees forty clients per week. She treats Wednesday – Sunday at her home clinic and often sees her last client as late as 9pm. Marika does not have dedicated clinic computers or booking systems, and so uses her mobile phone’s calendar for bookings and SMS for confirming appointments. Recently, Marika has been treating two men from her local rugby club on a very regular basis. The first, Gary, recommended her to the other one (Jared) and they have all been seeing her weekly since that time. Each of them has brought her in a great deal of business because they talk frequently about her at the club. She estimates that, between the two of them, they have brought her fifteen new clients. Marika plays touch rugby in the same rugby club and she is well known and liked there. As with most players, it’s common for her to stay and have a few beers after the game in the small, busy club house. As a contribution to the club, Marika frequently volunteers to treat before and after games. On those days, she sometimes treats Gary on the club’s table after everyone has left, as it is more convenient when she is already set up for treating. Last week, Gary gave Marika a lift in to the club, because her car had broken down. Gary wasn’t playing that day, so Marika gave him a free treatment after the games, to say thank you. Since the bar was still open afterward, they both had a couple of beers with the winning team afterward. Marika was frustrated because Gary paid for the beer and wouldn’t let her use her own money. Yesterday, when she was treating Jared, he asked her if Gary had taken her anywhere nice yet. When Marika asked Jared what he meant, he was surprised, saying “Everyone knows you’re dating”. Knowing that she shouldn’t ever have a relationship with a client, Marika was concerned about this impression and tried to explain to Jared that there was no relationship between she and Gary. She wondered who had started the rumour and what she should do. Discussion Questions Choose two of the below points to discuss, referring to the AAMT Guide in your answer: ? How did this situation occur? ? What has Marika done wrong, if anything? ? What has Gary done wrong, if anything? ? What should Marika do now?