The UK Reiki Federation

Codes of Professional Practice

APPENDIX 1

REIKI AND LEGISLATION

In the UK the following are noted:

1. A parent or guardian who wilfully fails to provide adequate medical aid for a child under the age of 16 may be committing a criminal office. Reiki is not defined as a medical aid by law so anyone who treats a child whose parents refuse medical aid could be seen to be aiding and abetting that offence. When treating a child it is advisable to secure the signature of the parent or guardian to the following statement. "I have been warned by (Reiki Practitioner’s name) that according to Law I must consult a doctor concerning the health of my child (child’s name)." This statement should be signed and dated by both parent/guardian and a witness and kept with the client records.
2. It is illegal to practice dentistry if unqualified.
3. It is an offence to offer treatment or prescribe a remedy or advice for cancer (please note – this does not mean that you cannot give Reiki to someone with cancer, you just cannot claim to specifically treat cancer).
4. Any advertising should comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice and meet the requirements of the Advertising Standards Agency. Adverts should be dignified and should not claim a cure or mention any disease.
5. Reiki Practitioners must not attend women in childbirth or treat them for ten days thereafter unless they hold an appropriate qualification in midwifery.
6. Reiki Practitioners should not prescribe or sell remedies, herbs, supplements, oils, etc., unless they have undergone appropriate training and have qualifications which entitle them to do so.
7. Before treating animals it is advisable to seek assurance from the owner that a vet has examined the animal. The Veterinary Surgery Act of 1966 prohibits anyone other than a qualified veterinary surgeon from treating animals, including diagnosis of ailments and giving of advice on such diagnosis. However the healing of animals by contact healing, by the laying on of hands or distant healing is legal. However the Protection of Animals Act 1911 requires that if an animal clearly needs treatment from a veterinary surgeon the owner must obtain this. To give emergency First Aid to animals for the purpose of saving life or relieving pain is permissible under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 Schedule 3.
8. It is required that cases of certain infectious diseases are notified to the Medical Officer of Health in the district where the client is resident. The notification must be made by a GP, so if a Reiki Practitioner suspects that the client is suffering from a notifiable disease they should insist that the client should see a doctor.

NOTIFIABLE DISEASES

Under the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984. Cholera, Plague, Relapsing Fever, Smallpox, Typhus, Food Poisoning.

Under the Public health (Infectious diseases) Regulations 1988. Acute Encephalitis, Acute Poliomyelitis, Anthrax, Diphtheria, Dysentery (Amoebic or Bacillary), Leprosy, Leptospirosis, Malaria, Measles, Meningitis, Meningococcal Septicaemia (without Meningitis) Mumps, Opthalmia Neonatorum, Paratyphoid Fever, Rabies, Rubella, Scarlet Fever, Tetanus, Tuberculosis, Typhoid Fever, Viral Haemorrahagic Fever, Viral Hepatitis, Whooping Cough, Yellow Fever.

Reiki Practitioners must investigate and co-operate with local by-laws and all relevant Health and Safety legislation.

Ignorance of the law is no defence.

 

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