“Christo, why are you not offering promotions, but other Therapeutic Reflexologists do?” These are words sometimes heard from the general public when enquiring about Therapeutic Reflexology. In today’s post, we’ll consider why offering promotions are not part of a professional healthcare practice.
It is easy to get caught up in comparing one Therapeutic Reflexologist with the next, but what you should always keep in mind, is that just because somebody is doing something, it does not make it right. There are Therapeutic Reflexologists that unfortunately act unethically by doing things that are not allowed, so just because somebody is doing it, does not mean others will follow acting unethically in the process.
So, what the general public usually refer to when asking a question like this, revolves around the fact that some Therapeutic Reflexologists advertise promotions to the public like “make use of my special therapeutic reflexology package for a specific amount” or “if you come for therapeutic reflexology for a specific amount then you get another complementary healthcare modality included for free. People would always like to know why I don’t offer the same. Well, the answer is simple: It is not only illegal to advertise and offer promotions, but it is also unethical and unprofessional conduct.
“What! How can you say that!!”
I’m not saying it, the law does.
Therapeutic Reflexology is a professional healthcare profession formally regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA), a statutory council that regulates the profession based on the Allied Health Professions Act. So the Act makes it clear as to what is legal and what is illegal while the AHPCSA also makes formal ethical regulations available as the profession is formally regulated. Based on these legal documents, it is clear that Therapeutic Reflexologists may not advertise and offer any promotions in an attempt to canvas or tout for patients. Doing so is unethical and unprofessional.
Any Therapeutic Reflexologist purposefully acting unethically and unprofessionally, is not only harming their own reputation and making themselves appear desperate, but they are in actual fact harming the entire profession of Therapeutic Reflexology as they make the entire profession appear cheap.
My personal opinion has always been that I won’t make use of the services of a healthcare provider that purposefully act unethically or conduct themselves unprofessionally. I don’t want to use the services of a healthcare provider that cuts corners. That is a personal opinion, but the general public has to make up their own mind. Do you really want to save a few rands in order to make use of a promotion that is unethically being advertised by a healthcare provider?
Looking at this from another perspective; have you ever seen a medical doctor or a physiotherapist advertise promotions? No!!! The reason is plain and simple: healthcare providers do not advertise promotions because it is unethical and unprofessional. Even worse, it is harming the entire profession. Just imagine a medical doctor advertising a promotion: “For the amazing price of only R500.00 you can get a 10-minute longer consultation with your doctor and a free injection will be included.” Preposterous!! Can you imagine a surgeon doing the same: “While taking out your appendix, I’ll remove your gallbladder for free.” Outrageous!!
It is just as absurd for a Therapeutic Reflexologist to do it because they are healthcare providers as well. Healthcare providers should not be advertising promotions and if they do, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, but even worse, they are actually harming the general public’s impression of our profession, negatively affecting the practices of all other Therapeutic Reflexologists.
At the end of the day, all healthcare professions should maintain high ethical, professional, and legal standards and a whole profession cannot be negatively affected due to a few bad apples that are abusing the rules and regulations.
Always ensure that you visit a Therapeutic Reflexologist that upholds the ethical, professional and legislative rules and regulations of the AHPCSA at all times; you deserve the best possible treatment when paying for Therapeutic Reflexology, do not pay less on an unethical promotion and then you are disappointed in the entire profession; you know the saying, buying cheap, is buying expensive.
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
Dip.T.R.(Cum Laude) [IARAMT]
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243