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Duties of Veterinarians to the Profession: Professional Ethics and Responsibilities
Veterinarians have important responsibilities toward their profession, colleagues, and patients. Professional ethics help maintain the dignity, integrity, and standards of veterinary practice while promoting professional cooperation and protecting the interests of patients.
This article outlines the key duties and ethical responsibilities of veterinarians to the profession and to one another.
- Upholding the Honour of the Profession: A veterinarian is expected to uphold the dignity and honour of the profession.
- Membership of Societies: For the advancement of the profession, a veterinarian may affiliate with professional societies and contribute his/her time and energy to their progress so that they may better represent and promote the ideals of the profession.
- Safeguarding the Profession: Every veterinarian shall aid in safeguarding the profession against the admission of those who are deficient in moral character or education. He/she should not employ any unqualified personnel in connection with his/her professional practice to treat or perform operations on patients.
- Exposure of Unethical Conduct: Unethical conduct on the part of any member of the profession shall be exposed without fear or favour. Incompetent, corrupt, dishonest, or unethical conduct on the part of any member of the profession shall be discouraged at any cost.
- Appointment of Substitute: Whenever a veterinarian (hereinafter referred to as the “absent veterinarian”) requests another veterinarian to attend to his/her patients or clients during his/her temporary absence from practice, professional courtesy requires the acceptance of such an appointment by the latter, if consistent with his/her other duties. The veterinarian serving under such an appointment shall give utmost consideration to the interests and reputation of the absent veterinarian. He/she shall not charge either the patient or the absent veterinarian for his/her services, except in cases of a special arrangement between them. All such patients shall be restored to the care of the absent veterinarian upon his/her return.
If a veterinarian is engaged to attend to a patient with dystocia or a similar distress, he/she shall do so. Refusal to do so under the excuse of another engagement is unethical, except when he/she is already engaged in a similar or another serious case.
When a veterinarian engaged to attend a serious case is absent and another veterinarian is called, the latter shall be entitled to legitimate fees, provided that he/she shall secure the client’s consent to withdraw upon the arrival of the former at a mutually agreed-upon or logical phase of treatment.
When it becomes the duty of a veterinarian occupying an official position to see and report on an illness, injury, or any other professional problem concerning a patient, he/she shall do so but shall communicate with the veterinarian in attendance so as to give him/her the option to be present. The former shall avoid remarks on the diagnosis or treatment that has been adopted. This does not prevent him/her from discussing the matter with the latter in private.
Professional Services of Veterinarians to One Another
- There is no rule that a veterinarian shall not charge another veterinarian or a member of a sister profession for services rendered. However, a veterinarian shall consider it a pleasure and privilege to render gratuitous services to his/her professional colleagues if they are in his/her vicinity, or to a veterinary student.
- When a veterinarian is called from a distance to attend to a case involving a fellow veterinarian or a member of a sister profession, reimbursement shall be made for travel and other incidental expenses.
- A veterinarian called in an emergency to visit a patient under the care of another veterinarian shall, when the emergency is over, retire in favour of the latter; however, he/she shall be entitled to charge the client for his/her services.
- When a veterinarian is consulted at his/her own residence, it is not binding on him/her to inquire whether the patient has been under the care of another veterinarian. However, in the interests of the patient, he/she shall, while ascertaining the history, review any treatment that has been followed. It is unethical to use this information to malign or instigate against, directly or indirectly, the veterinarian who previously attended to the patient. When a veterinarian sees a patient at the request of another veterinarian, it shall be the duty of the first veterinarian to write a letter to the veterinarian making the request, stating his/her opinion of the case and the modes of treatment he/she considers appropriate.
