Massage Therapy License | The Health Law Firm Blog

Suspended Florida Massage Therapists are Being Asked to Voluntarily Relinquish Their Licenses

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law, and Christopher E. Brown, J.D.

On September 19, 2012, Florida state authorities announced the suspension of more than 80 massage therapists’ licenses. They are accused of fraudulently obtaining their licenses based on fake documentation obtained from a staff member at the Florida College of Natural Health, in Pompano Beach, Florida. On September 20, 2012, one massage therapist, whose license was suspended, spoke to the Sun Sentinel saying she had legitimately completed all of the requirements to obtain a license and is now being asked by the Department of Health […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:46-04:00May 15, 2018|Department of Health Investigation, Emergency Suspension Orders, Florida Board of Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy License|

Consequences of Having Your Massage Therapy License Revoked (Or Relinquishing it after Notice of an Investigation)

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Many massage therapists, when confronted with an investigation against their license, do not fight the charges, sometimes they decide it is cheaper and easier just to give up their license. Either choice is likely to be a mistake.

A charge can be filed causing an investigation to be opened against a massage therapist by many different sources and often without any supporting evidence. If challenged and defended by an attorney with knowledge and experience in such matters, these investigations may often be dismissed with no disciplinary action […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:46-04:00May 15, 2018|Department of Health Investigation, Florida Board of Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy License|

Florida Suspends the Licenses of 81 Massage Therapists

By Joanne Kenna, J.D., R.N., and George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

According to a number of sources, state authorities have announced the suspension of more than 80 massage therapists’ licenses, who appear to have fraudulently obtained their licenses with the help of an employee with the Florida College of Natural Health. On September 19, 2012, 81 emergency suspension orders (ESOs) were signed, suspending the licenses of massage therapists who are part of ongoing investigations.

To see the entire press release from the Florida governor’s office, click here.

Investigation Found More Than 200 Therapists Obtained Their Licenses Fraudulently.

According to the Tampa Bay […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:46-04:00May 15, 2018|Department of Health Investigation, Florida Board of Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy License|

Administrative Law Judge Recommends Dismissal of All Charges Against Massage Therapist

FACTS: As reported in the June 2013 edition of DOAH Case Notes, Guiping Diamond graduated from the Florida College of Natural Health (“FCNH”) and became a Florida-licensed massage therapist in 2009. However, FCNH’s former registrar falsely told her that FCNH would accept all of the credits from her previous school and that those transfer credits fulfilled FCNH’s requirements for issuance of a diploma satisfying state licensure requirements. There was no evidence that Ms. Diamond was aware of the falsified documentation, which the FCNH registrar submitted directly to the Board of Massage Therapy (“the Board”).

The Department of Health (“DOH”) issued an administrative complaint seeking revocation of Ms. Diamond’s license based on a variety of charges, including that Ms. Diamond obtained […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:11-04:00May 15, 2018|Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy License|

New Florida Law Prohibits Massage Therapy Businesses from Operating Between Certain Hours: Should Remedy “Human Trafficking” in Florida

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm and George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The operation of massage therapy establishments between certain late night and early morning hours will be prohibited under a new Florida law. Section 480.0475, Florida Statutes, becomes effective on October 1, 2013. The new Florida law restricts massage therapy businesses from being open for business between midnight and 5:00 A.M., with limited exceptions.

Click here to read Section 480.0475, Florida Statutes.

This law represents a significant curtailment of an establishment owner’s right to operate his/her business. The law states that it does […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:10-04:00May 15, 2018|Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy License|

After Discipline on Your Massage Therapy License or Resignation of a Massage Therapy License After Notice of Investigation, What Happens Next?

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Do you have massage therapy licenses in several states? Do you have a license in more than one health profession? Have you been notified that an investigation has been opened against you? Are you thinking about resigning or voluntarily relinquishing your massage therapy license? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then continue reading.

First, you should never voluntarily relinquish or resign your license after you know that an investigation has been opened or that disciplinary action has been taken against you. Such a resignation is considered to be a […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:10-04:00May 15, 2018|Department of Health Investigation, Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy License|

Overcoming License Suspension and Revocation Pending Appeal

By: Lance O. Leider, J.D.

If you are a doctor, nurse, dentist, psychologist, pharmacist, massage therapist or other licensed health professional whose license has been recently revoked or suspended, there may still be hope. Ordinarily, you must immediately stop practicing or you risk being prosecuted for unlicensed practice, a felony. Although this blog deals with Florida law, similar relief may be available in other states, too.

One of the hardest things about having a license suspended or revoked is that it immediately cuts off the licensee’s sole source of income. If you have a thriving practice, this will usually destroy any value your business has. Without income, paying your bills will be a challenge, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:04-04:00May 15, 2018|Department of Health Investigation, Florida Board of Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy License|

25 Mistakes Massage Therapists Make After Being Informed of a Department of Health (DOH) Complaint

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The investigation of a complaint which could lead to the revocation of a massage therapist’s license to practice and the assessment of tens of thousands of dollars in fines, usually starts with a simple letter from the Department of Health (DOH). This is a very serious legal matter and it should be treated as such by the massage therapist who receives it. Yet, in many cases, attorneys are consulted by massage therapists after the entire investigation is over, and they have attempted to represent themselves throughout the case. Often, the mistakes that […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:04-04:00May 15, 2018|Department of Health Investigation, Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy License|