The regulation of veterinary conduct is dependent on jurisdiction. The American Medical Veterinary Association (AMVA) offer guidelines to ethical practice of veterinarian physicians and technicians. The Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics as provided for by the AVMA outlines the rule framework to professional behavior and decision making in the delivery of veterinary services.
Consideration of duty to a standard of reasonable care in provision of treatments and interventions with animal patients covers the veterinarian-client patient relationship (VCPR). The VCPR is the basis to the engagement between veterinarians and their animal patients, and the primary point of reference for best practices in patient care.
Ethical Rules to Veterinary Treatment of Animal Patients
Veterinarians are obliged to abide by the laws of the jurisdictions in which they practice. Accountability to the VCPR includes ethical agreement to report harmful or illegal acts surrounding the care or treatment of an animal ensures that veterinarian physicians and technicians adhere to proper rules of professional conduct at all times.
Responsibility for the informed consent agreement in the treatment of an animal patient is the binding written record of assumed responsibility to clients. Clinical judgments made in relation to diagnosis and care of patients must follow AMVA ethical rules to practice, including obligation to sufficient knowledge prior to treatment.
Continuity of veterinary care following evaluation and treatment, also any emergency intervention delivered in the form of service to the patient. The AMVA indicates that maintenance of a record of medical service delivery, including provision of treatment, as well as compliance and outcomes to patient intervention is part of the scope of this recommendation to best practices.
The Protocol to Professional Judgment
Principal XI. Euthanasia to the AMVA’s code of conduct covers the humane euthanasia of animals as part of allowed and ethical veterinary procedures. Euthanasia protocol is defined by choice of treatment in guidelines found in Principal V. Influences on Judgment. Liability to patients in the AMVA medical ethics guidelines to professional practice reflects the enforcement of medical malpractice rules in tort law defining the care of human patients by physicians.
According to the Association, the well-being of the patient is the first consideration to treatment. The exercise of medical judgment should also include reference to public safety and welfare of the client providing consent for treatment of the animal patient. Medical judgment is to be influenced solely by the conditions described in the VCPR, and not by profit resulting from referrals of clients to service providers or products.
Veterinarians may also not make medical decisions on behalf of patients in association with external agreements made by their associations or societies. This includes the disclosure of patient record at conferences, meetings, or lectures without consent. For more information visit The Ark Pet Hospital
