Ethics changes mooted for veterinarians

Media release

27 April 2011

Ethics changes mooted for veterinarians

Stringent management of prescription medicines; clarification of the obligations around providing emergency animal care; expectations for veterinarians to obtain informed consent; a client’s right to access the medical records of their animals; detailed guidance on dealing with animal welfare matters and an expectation that veterinarians will not carry out medically unnecessary surgical procedures are all key areas addressed in a new draft Code of Professional Conduct published for consultation by a working party set up by the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.

The Code sets out the ethical standards which veterinarians are required to adhere to and be measured against. This is the first major overhaul of the Code since 1994 and is a key work programme for completion during 2011 which celebrates 250 years of the veterinary profession.

Veterinarian, Nick Twyford, the chair of the review working party which developed the new draft Code said it is a much clearer guide of what is expected from veterinarians than has existed in the past.

The 24 hour emergency response requirements will continue to place an obligation on all veterinarians in clinical practice to arrange a 24 hour emergency service to be provided for their clients to relieve unreasonable or unnecessary animal pain or distress.

“But, this does not mean 24 hour provision of ‘normal’ services,” Nick Twyford explained.

He also said the Code recognises that there may be circumstances where the emergency service can’t be provided, such as where the duty veterinarian does not have the necessary skills, is unexpectedly overloaded, or excessively fatigued.

The proposed Code suggests that because of the potential for drug abuse and diversion, all veterinarians should oversee and manage the use of controlled drugs to a higher standard than the obligations imposed by the law. This will mean more stringent requirements for record keeping and reconciliation of stocks of the controlled drugs used by veterinarians.

The revised code emphasises the importance of informed consent critical in the communication between veterinarian and client, and sets clear guidelines for veterinarians to follow.

In keeping with the principles of the Privacy Act the revised Code recognises that the information held in an animal’s medical record falls within the definition of information personal to the owner, and reinforces the rights of animal owners to access that information on request.

Veterinarians have specific responsibilities with regard to animal welfare and an over-riding professional duty to protect animals from unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress and to intervene when pain and distress occur.

The proposed new Code formalises the NZ Veterinary Association policy on medically unnecessary surgical procedures, including the non-therapeutic removal of a part of the body where that procedure has no science-based benefit and will not enhance the health and welfare of the animal.

“The Code review working party agrees that amputation of all or part of a dog’s tail without having a justifiable medical reason or because the dog is a particular breed, type or conformation is unacceptable and therefore this is included in the new Code,” Nick Twyford said.

The draft Code was developed by a working party of the Veterinary Council, the NZ Veterinary Association, lay and MAF representatives. There are significant changes to the older Code which take into account both professional and legislative developments, along with clear public expectations.

The Veterinary Council will be consulting with all interested parties over May and early June with the final version to be launched by the Minister of Agriculture in the Grand Parliamentary Hall in mid-August.

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