What is a key characteristic of consumer members regarding their relationship to massage therapy?

The correct choice reflects an important principle in ensuring that consumer members can effectively represent the interests of the public concerning massage therapy. Consumer members are typically required to have no conflicts of interest with massage therapy, which allows them to advocate for the general public's concerns and maintain impartiality in decision-making. This lack of conflict ensures that their perspectives are unbiased and focused on consumer protection, thereby fostering trust in regulatory processes.

On the other hand, being active practitioners would compromise their role as unbiased representatives of consumers. Having financial ties to massage schools could introduce conflicts of interest, which would interfere with their ability to objectify decisions regarding the profession. Lastly, requiring consumer members to be relatives of massage therapists would also conflict with representing the public's interest, as their proximity to the profession may skew their perspectives towards practitioners rather than the broader consumer base. This highlights the necessity for consumer members to maintain an independent stance to safeguard the interests of those utilizing massage therapy services.