หัตถบำบัด : ข้อพิจารณาเชิงจริยธรรมทางการแพทย์

          The Thesis focused on three purposes: 1) to study the development and practical ways in massage therapy, 2) to study the medical ethics in massage therapy and 3) to analyze the medical ethics in massage therapy. It is the documentary research. Its results  were found that:

            According to the history and development of Thai massage therapy, it had been a long time handed down since the Sukhothai period upto the present. The massage therapy is the traditional form in doing massage, that is occcuring by squeezing each other to relieve the pains within members of family. Its practical result has caused of learning, remembering, repeating, and the sytematic massage pattern has been developed and inherited the reservable national heritage knowledge from generation to generation. The present massage therapy has been developed and promoted to be as an alternative way for public health care.

             Regarding the Thai traditional medical profession, has been ordinary organized and developed. According to the 1923 Medical Act, the term “medical ethics” was first laid with following the guidelines of 3 ethical practice namely: (1) the Western ethics such as the principle of doing good  is the duty of man, the principle of the greate happiness which aims to the massive greatest benefit and happiness, the Hippocrates' vow to heal the sick, helping human fellows to get suffering rit without expecting anything in return, minimizing the pain of the patient and keeping their the most confidentiality. (2) Thai medical ethics have a close related with the Buddhist doctrine. The medical manuscript has mentioned about the 12 virtues of a physician, such as being kind, compassionate, honest, and (3) The Buddhist ethics on wchich Thai traditional medicine had applied as a practical guideline. It consists of the primary, middle, and higher ethical principles namely the Five Precepts, Hiri (Moral Shame) Otappa (Moral Dread), 4 Brahmaviharas (Sublime States of Mind), 4 Iddhipadas (Basis for Success), and 8 Worldly Dhammas. Those Doctrines are found  in the 10 virtues of Thai masseuses.

            The analysis on vethics in massage therapy was found that the good value is to heal the patients recovered from their suffering and illness. What happens next is the happiness when people are free from suffering. The happiness, joy, delightfulness and rature haves arisen, when one is healed of sickness and tuamar. Wheneve the body is freed from suffering , the mind is also happy and the life is safe. From this, morality, concentration, and wisdom can easily arise. The ethics in massage therapy are such as loving kindness, compassion, sharing, politeness, gentleness, and humility. At present, the Thai massage profession is approoved with having disciplines and ethics been organized and controlled. It has also been registered for the professional certification from the State and more sytematic organized the enterprise and massage providers.