Sexual Misconduct Laws by State

Nevada

https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nac/NAC-640C.html

UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

      AC 640C.400  “Sexual activity” interpreted. (NRS 640C.320)  As used in subsection 4 of NRS 640C.700, the Board interprets the phrase “sexual activity” to include, without limitation:

     1.  Sexual intercourse;

     2.  Examining or touching the genitals, anus or any sexualized body part except as otherwise provided in subsection 4 of NRS 640C.700;

     3.  Rubbing against a client for sexual gratification;

     4.  Kissing;

     5.  Hugging, touching, fondling or caressing of a romantic or sexual nature;

     6.  Not allowing a client privacy to dress or undress except as may be necessary in a medical emergency or custodial situation;

     7.  Not providing a client a gown or draping except as may be necessary in a medical emergency;

     8.  Removing the client’s clothing or gown or draping without consent, except as may be necessary in a medical emergency or in a custodial setting;

     9.  Encouraging masturbation or any other sex act in the presence of the massage therapist;

     10.  Dressing or undressing in the presence of the client;

     11.  Masturbation or any other sex act by the massage therapist in the presence of the client;

     12.  Suggesting or discussing the possibility of dating or beginning a sexual or romantic relationship before the professional relationship ends;

     13.  Terminating the professional relationship with the client for the purpose of dating or pursuing a romantic or sexual relationship;

     14.  Discussing the sexual history, preference or fantasies of the massage therapist;

     15.  Any behavior, gesture or expression that may reasonably be interpreted as seductive or sexual;

     16.  Making statements regarding the client’s body, appearance, sexual history or sexual orientation other than for legitimate health care purposes;

     17.  Sexually demeaning behavior including any verbal or physical contact which may reasonably be interpreted as demeaning, humiliating, embarrassing, threatening or harming a client;

     18.  Photographing or filming the body or any body part of a client other than for legitimate health care purposes; and

     19.  Showing a client sexually explicit photographs other than for legitimate health care purposes.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Massage Therapists by R009-07, eff. 6-17-2008)

      AC 640C.410  “Unethical or unprofessional conduct” interpreted. (NRS 640C.320)

     1.  As used in subsection 9 of NRS 640C.700, the Board interprets the phrase “unethical or unprofessional conduct” to include, without limitation:

     (a) Offering to practice massage on a client in exchange for sexual favors.

     (b) Using health care information to contact a client for the purpose of engaging in a sexual activity with the client.

     (c) Using health care information or access to health care information to meet or attempt to meet the sexual needs of the massage therapist.

     2.  When evaluating whether a massage therapist is prohibited from engaging or attempting to engage in a sexual activity with a client or former client, the Board will consider, without limitation:

     (a) Documentation of a formal termination of the professional relationship between the massage therapist and the client or former client;

     (b) The transfer of care of the client or former client from the massage therapist to another massage therapist;

     (c) The duration of the professional relationship between the massage therapist and the client or former client;

     (d) The amount of time that has passed since the last services related to the practice of massage therapy were provided to the client or former client by the massage therapist;

     (e) The communication between the massage therapist and the client or former client after the last services related to the practice of massage therapy were provided to the client or former client and before the commencement of the personal relationship;

     (f) The extent to which the personal or private information of the client or former client was shared with the massage therapist;

     (g) The nature of the health condition of the client or former client, if any, during the professional relationship between the massage therapist and the client or former client and after that professional relationship ended;

     (h) The extent of emotional dependence of the client or former client on the massage therapist, if any, and the vulnerability of the client or former client; and

     (i) The standard cycle for revisiting a massage therapist as determined by the Board.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Massage Therapists by R009-07, eff. 6-17-2008)

      AC 640C.420  Provisions regarding unprofessional or unethical conduct: Consent does not excuse or negate responsibility to comply; exceptions. (NRS 640C.320)

     1.  Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of subsection 4 of NRS 640C.700, the consent of the client or former client does not excuse or negate the responsibility of the massage therapist to comply with NAC 640C.400 and 640C.410 and the provisions of NRS 640C.700 with regard to sexual activity.

     2.  The provisions of NAC 640C.400 and 640C.410 do not prohibit:

     (a) A massage therapist from providing health care services during the course of practicing massage on a person in the case of an emergency if the services cannot or will not be provided by a health care provider;

     (b) Contact by a massage therapist with a client that is necessary for a legitimate health care purpose and that meets the standard of appropriate care of a massage therapist as determined by the Board; or

     (c) Providing services related to the practice of massage therapy to a person who is in a preexisting established personal relationship with the massage therapist if there is no evidence of, or potential for, exploiting the person.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Massage Therapists by R009-07, eff. 6-17-2008)

Tennessee

(Rule 0870-01-.02, (PDF)  continued) August, 2017(Revised) 3

(3)

Sexual conduct, sexual activity, or sexualizing behavior involving a client is strictly prohibited

at all times. A massage therapist may not initiate, arrange for, or engage in such activities,

including if the client attempts to sexualize the relationship.

(4)

Massage therapists must refrain, under all circumstances, from providing the following

treatments, which are prohibited and not within the scope of practice for massage therapists:

(a)

Treatments to the anus or anal canal, including, but not limited to, colonic irrigations

and enemas;

(b)

Cross-gender breast massage;

(c)

Treatments to the genitals

Washington

WAC 246-16-100

Sexual misconduct.

(1) A health care provider shall not engage, or attempt to engage, in sexual misconduct with a current patient, client, or key party, inside or outside the health care setting. Sexual misconduct shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action. Sexual misconduct includes but is not limited to:

(a) Sexual intercourse;

(b) Touching the breasts, genitals, anus or any sexualized body part except as consistent with accepted community standards of practice for examination, diagnosis and treatment and within the health care practitioner’s scope of practice;

(c) Rubbing against a patient or client or key party for sexual gratification;

(d) Kissing;

(e) Hugging, touching, fondling or caressing of a romantic or sexual nature;

(f) Examination of or touching genitals without using gloves;

(g) Not allowing a patient or client privacy to dress or undress except as may be necessary in emergencies or custodial situations;

(h) Not providing the patient or client a gown or draping except as may be necessary in emergencies;

(i) Dressing or undressing in the presence of the patient, client or key party;

(j) Removing patient or client’s clothing or gown or draping without consent, emergent medical necessity or being in a custodial setting;

(k) Encouraging masturbation or other sex act in the presence of the health care provider;

(l) Masturbation or other sex act by the health care provider in the presence of the patient, client or key party;

(m) Suggesting or discussing the possibility of a dating, sexual or romantic relationship after the professional relationship ends;

(n) Terminating a professional relationship for the purpose of dating or pursuing a romantic or sexual relationship;

(o) Soliciting a date with a patient, client or key party;

(p) Discussing the sexual history, preferences or fantasies of the health care provider;

(q) Any behavior, gestures, or expressions that may reasonably be interpreted as seductive or sexual;

(r) Making statements regarding the patient, client or key party’s body, appearance, sexual history, or sexual orientation other than for legitimate health care purposes;

(s) Sexually demeaning behavior including any verbal or physical contact which may reasonably be interpreted as demeaning, humiliating, embarrassing, threatening or harming a patient, client or key party;

(t) Photographing or filming the body or any body part or pose of a patient, client, or key party, other than for legitimate health care purposes; and

(u) Showing a patient, client or key party sexually explicit photographs, other than for legitimate health care purposes.

(2) Sexual misconduct also includes sexual contact with any person involving force, intimidation, or lack of consent; or a conviction of a sex offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030.

(3) A health care provider shall not:

(a) Offer to provide health care services in exchange for sexual favors;

(b) Use health care information to contact the patient, client or key party for the purpose of engaging in sexual misconduct;

(c) Use health care information or access to health care information to meet or attempt to meet the health care provider’s sexual needs.

(4) A health care provider shall not engage, or attempt to engage, in the activities listed in subsection (1) of this section with a former patient, client or key party within two years after the provider-patient/client relationship ends.

(5) After the two-year period of time described in subsection (4) of this section, a health care provider shall not engage, or attempt to engage, in the activities listed in subsection (1) of this section if:

(a) There is a significant likelihood that the patient, client or key party will seek or require additional services from the health care provider; or

(b) There is an imbalance of power, influence, opportunity and/or special knowledge of the professional relationship.

(6) When evaluating whether a health care provider is prohibited from engaging, or attempting to engage, in sexual misconduct, the secretary will consider factors, including but not limited to:

(a) Documentation of a formal termination and the circumstances of termination of the provider-patient relationship;

(b) Transfer of care to another health care provider;

(c) Duration of the provider-patient relationship;

(d) Amount of time that has passed since the last health care services to the patient or client;

(e) Communication between the health care provider and the patient or client between the last health care services rendered and commencement of the personal relationship;

(f) Extent to which the patient’s or client’s personal or private information was shared with the health care provider;

(g) Nature of the patient or client’s health condition during and since the professional relationship;

(h) The patient or client’s emotional dependence and vulnerability; and

(i) Normal revisit cycle for the profession and service.

(7) Patient, client or key party initiation or consent does not excuse or negate the health care provider’s responsibility.

(8) These rules do not prohibit:

(a) Providing health care services in case of emergency where the services cannot or will not be provided by another health care provider;

(b) Contact that is necessary for a legitimate health care purpose and that meets the standard of care appropriate to that profession; or

(c) Providing health care services for a legitimate health care purpose to a person who is in a preexisting, established personal relationship with the health care provider where there is no evidence of, or potential for, exploiting the patient or client.