(1) A massage therapist must:

(a) Allow a client or patient privacy to dress or undress except as may be necessary in emergencies or custodial situations; and

(b) Always provide the client or patient a gown or draping except as may be necessary in emergencies.

(2) Massage therapists must use safe, functional, and hygienic coverage and draping practices that comply with WAC 246-830-500 during the practice of massage when the client or patient is disrobed. The drape or drapes must be sufficient to ensure the genitals and the gluteal cleft distal to the coccyx, anus and rectum are not exposed, and the breast area is not exposed except as allowed in subsections (3) and (4) of this section. Safe, functional, and hygienic coverage and draping means:

(a) The massage therapist explains, maintains and respects coverage and draping boundaries;

(b) Massage or movement of the body does not expose genitals or gluteal cleft distal to the coccyx, anus and rectum, or does not expose the breast area except as allowed in subsections (3) and (4) of this section; and

(c) All linens that are used with the client or patient are kept and maintained in accordance with WAC 246-830-500.

(3) With prior signed or initialed written and verbal informed consent from the client or patient, the gluteal cleft and breast drapes may be temporarily moved in order to perform therapeutic treatment of the area consistent with WAC 246-830-550, 246-830-555, and 246-830-557. In addition, with informed and written consent, a client or patient may choose to have their upper torso undraped during the entire massage.

(4) If variations to this coverage and draping rule occur, a massage therapist must:

(a) Maintain evidence of education and training in specific modalities that require variations in coverage and draping;

(b) Receive voluntary and informed consent of the client or patient prior to any variation of coverage or draping; and

(c) Document in the client's or patient's record the rationale for any variation of coverage or draping.

(5) Any written consent required by this section may be included within an overall general consent to massage document, if clearly delineated and either specifically initialed or signed.