CONTENT
Duties of Veterinarians in Consultation: Professional Ethics and Responsibilities
Consultation is an important aspect of veterinary practice, particularly in serious, complex, or difficult cases that may require specialized knowledge or additional clinical expertise. Veterinarians involved in a consultation have professional and ethical responsibilities toward the patient, the attending veterinarian, the consulting veterinarian, and the client.
These duties include encouraging consultation when appropriate, maintaining professional conduct, providing relevant case information during referrals, respecting differences of opinion, and ensuring that the patient’s welfare remains the primary consideration throughout the consultation process.
Consultation Shall be Encouraged
In cases of serious illness, doubtful or difficult conditions, a veterinarian shall always request consultation; he/she shall also do so in cases of major surgical interventions, outbreaks of herd diseases, poisoning, endemic, or undiagnosable situations.
Punctuality in Consultations
Punctuality shall be observed by a veterinarian in attending a consultation. If a consulting veterinarian does not arrive within a reasonable time, the attending veterinarian shall be at liberty to see the patient, provided that he/she shall leave his/her conclusion in writing in a closed envelope. The same rule is applicable if the consulting veterinarian fails to arrive on time.
Patient Referred to Another Veterinarian
- When a patient is referred to another veterinarian, a statement of the history, observations, clinical and laboratory examinations, as well as the tentative treatments undertaken, shall be given.
- On receipt of the above statement, the veterinarian receiving the referred case shall communicate his/her opinion to the attending veterinarian and either continue the treatment as per his/her opinion or return the case along with his/her communicated opinion.
Consultation for Patient’s Benefit
In every consultation, the benefit of the patient shall be of prime importance. It should not be undertaken with the ulterior motive of evading responsibilities or for monetary considerations.
Conduct of Consultation
- In consultation, there shall be no place for insincerity, rivalry, or envy. All due respect shall be shown to the veterinarian in charge of the case, and no statement or remark shall be made that would impair the confidence reposed in him/her by the client. For this purpose, no such discussion shall, therefore, be made before the client.
- All statements to the client shall be made in the presence of the consulting veterinarian, except as otherwise agreed. Announcements to the client shall also be made by the consulting veterinarian to the extent possible.
- Differences of opinion shall not be divulged unless both feel that it would be in the interest of the patient or the dignity of the profession.
- It shall be open to the client to seek further advice, and the consulting veterinarian, with the consent of the client, may consult another veterinarian, the rules of ethics remaining the same.
Cessation of Consultation
Attendance of the consulting veterinarian shall cease when the consultation is concluded, unless another appointment is arranged by the attending veterinarian.
Treatment after consultation:
- No decision shall restrain the attending veterinarian from making such subsequent variation in the treatment as any unexpected change or development may demand, provided that, at the next consultation, the reasons for the variations are stated.
- The same privilege, with its obligations, belongs to the consultant when sent for in an emergency during the absence of the attending veterinarian. The attending veterinarian may prescribe at any time, but the consultant only in case of emergency or immediate need. All treatments by both shall be communicated to each other.
Consultant Not to Take Charge of the Case
When a consultant veterinarian is called upon for consultation, none but the rarest and most exceptional circumstances shall justify the consultant taking charge of the case. He/she must not do so merely on the solicitation of the client or his/her representative.
Bar on Consulting Non-Registered Veterinary Practitioners
No veterinarian shall have a consultation with a veterinary practitioner who is not registered.
