I read with some interest this article from today’s Hotel Business Review, titled “The Healing Power of Touch: Oncology Care as an Asset to Hotel Spas.” Its author advocates for the expansion of spa services to include “specialized treatments for cancer patients,” including treatments to mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. I am not qualified to comment on the author’s assertions that spa treatments can be effective in this way. I have no reason to doubt her on this point. My legal advice to the owner or operator of a spa or a hotel that includes a spa would be to TREAD CAREFULLY before venturing (or allowing a concessionaire to venture) into these or any other services related to healthcare. The author correctly emphasizes the importance of training and professional certification for therapists who provide such treatments to oncology patients. This is probably not enough. State and municipal laws likely also require the spa itself to be licensed to provide services in support of medical treatments. The owner and operator of the spa, and any hotel in which it is located, should also be duly insured against the risks of providing such services. If pursued with due precautions, this area of business may be a great opportunity for the right kind of spas, perhaps including spas located in hotels that serve nearby medical facilities. However, for most hotel and resort-based spas, I question whether the risks of venturing into this area would outweigh the rewards