Massage may be inadvisable because of contraindications (see Chapter 5).

A client may not be in a position at that moment for a massage. For example, the client may be obnoxious, intoxicated or unable to pay. A client who is frightening to the therapist or who is grubby and unclean may be refused.

The therapist may be working alone or in an area which is largely empty. Perhaps the establishment is located in an office complex where the offices close at six and the therapist’s office is open till eight. The therapist may want to exercise greater caution after six or may want to restrict the practice after a certain hour to clients who have been in before.

The right to refuse service to anyone should be clearly posted in the lobby of the establishment where prospective clients can read it. This is a common business practice.

The therapist may be too tired to work on a particular client. The beauty of the industry is its traditionally relaxed atmosphere and lack of conventional deadlines. The therapist may have had prior experience with the client which proved incompatible. It may be appropriate to suggest another therapist.

Refusing to treat because of gender, national origin, ancestry, race, color, religion, creed, age, gender orientation or sexual orientation may be illegal.

Refusing to treat some parts of the body are mandated by the law or ethics (see the next chapter.) If the person has a condition and thinks massage may improve the situation, the therapist may refuse treatment if the therapist believes massage would worsen the condition. The therapist may wish to refuse treatment of the affected body part in any case since the client may blame the therapist for any subsequent worsening of the problem.

Therapists who are not trained in certain specialized forms of massage should decline treatment. For example, pregnancy massage requires training. Inappropriate massage on a pregnant woman in her later trimesters has been said to induce early labor. There is material available teaching anyone how to do chiropractic adjustments. But the therapist should refuse to administer chiropractic adjustments unless properly trained and licensed to do so.

Note: Some jurisdictions (states, counties, towns) may have laws restricting the right to refuse service. The therapist should be aware of applicable local rules.