What are a veterinarian’s responsibilities?

A veterinarian’s responsibilities in relation to veterinary and animal health records are covered in three clauses of the Veterinary practitioners code of professional conduct (Code):

1. Provision of records

Are you falling behind the rest of the profession?               

Veterinarians are expected to assess for and alleviate animal pain where necessary and in accordance with current standards. 

The Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 provides that a veterinary practitioner may issue non-handwritten or computer generated prescriptions for an S4 restricted substance or an S8 restricted substance.

A computer generated prescription is one that has any information (except for the veterinarian’s address and contact details) printed rather than handwritten. Elements of the prescription which may be computer generated differ for S4 and S8 prescriptions. 

Since May 2017 the Board has reviewed and determined 40 complaints. Of these complaints 29 were dismissed after investigation, 8 veterinarians were found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and cautioned and 3 veterinarians were found guilty of professional misconduct and reprimanded.

The Veterinary practitioners code of professional conduct (Code) sets out the basic principles of professional conduct including, informed consent, confidentiality and management of records. The key to meeting these standards is communication.

A veterinarian’s responsibilities in relation to veterinary and animal health records are covered in three clauses of the Veterinary practitioners code of professional conduct:

Provision of records

Under the Code (clause 9), a veterinary practitioner who has previously treated an animal must, when requested to do so, and with the consent of the person responsible for the care of the animal, provide copies or originals of all relevant case history records directly to another veterinary practitioner who has taken over the treatment of the animal.

The Board has reviewed and determined 29 complaints made against veterinarians since October 2016.  Of these, 23 complaints were dismissed, 5 veterinarians were found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and cautioned and 1 veterinarian was found guilty of professional misconduct and reprimanded.

There are four possible outcomes for complaints investigated by the Board:

1.       Dismiss

2.       Dismiss with a recommendation