Transcript Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

Laws Governing
Veterinary Medicine
Laws represent the required standards for the practice of
veterinary medicine.
There are two major organizations that provide additional
recommendations for additional standards – these standards
are voluntary.
1. American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• A national organization that represents the
individual veterinarian
• Provides representation of professional interests to
various legislative bodies
• Provides policies and guidelines to the profession
• Provides continuing education
• Accredits colleges of veterinary medicine and
schools for veterinary technicians
2. American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
* Sets standards for veterinary hospitals
* Any veterinary hospital displaying the AAHA logo must
meet and adhere to the organization’s membership
requirements
* Member hospitals are subject to periodic inspections
* Standards are wide-ranging: examination facilities,
pharmacy, anesthesia, surgery, housekeeping
* Not all hospitals meet the standards set forth by the
AAHA
Common Law
Common law is based on legal precedents.
•Animals are considered property – just as your car or a house.
•Owners have rights associated with their property (pets/animals) –
especially while in the custody of the veterinarian.
Liability: A legal responsibility
* Concerns injuries or losses to an owner while on the
veterinary premises - either to themselves or their
pets
Malpractice: (mal = bad) substandard practice – willful,
negligent or ignorant
Negligence: failure to do what should be done
An owner has a right to damages as a result of actions that
cause a decrease in value, injury or death to a pet
Contract Law
•Governs the relationship between the veterinarian and the client
•Expressed – written or oral
•Implied – based on assumption
•Breach – occurs when any party fails to fulfill his or her
responsibilities
•Led to consent forms
•Estimated cost for services
Procedures for the veterinary assistant:
NEVER:
* make any guarantee
* minimize the risks
* permit owners to restrain their own pets
* allow an unsafe facility condition to persist
* provide information to anyone on any subject that
on which you are not well informed
ALWAYS:
* Document all conversations with the owner in the patient
record (includes telephone conversations)
* Be certain all consent forms are reviewed and signed by
owner before rendering service – keep them in the patient
record.
* Use estimate forms before rendering services
* Keep all doors closed and windows securely screened
* Provide leashes and carriers in the reception area for
owners who do not use them
* Provide adequate restraint of all animals within the
hospital
* Keep animals separate
* Use identification collars on all patients/kennels
* Know the law and conform to it
Federal Law
Federal law always override state laws – federal laws state policy and
penalty while the individual state implements and enforces the law.
Federal legislation for animals began in the late 1880s with the anticruelty movement.
Anti-cruelty laws now exist in all states – although they are
not standardized.
Examples:
* Interstate and international movement of
animals
* Permissible drug residues in food animals
* Animal Welfare Act
* Marine mammals – protection in handling, transport and
care
* Public and animal health is protected through meat and
milk inspection
* Reporting of foreign animal diseases
* Implementation of animal disease eradication programs
There are also laws that affect the practice of veterinary medicine such
as:
* The Fair Labor Standards Act covers child labor
* OSHA governs workplace safety
* Americans with Disability Act mandates reasonable
accommodations for those with disabilities
* The Food and Drug Administration specifies the
manufacturing standards and the distribution of food
additives and drugs for animals.
State Laws
State laws are not standardized – they reflect the needs of the region
they govern.
They also change over time as needs change.
STATE PRACTICE ACT: specific to each state – governs the practice of
veterinary medicine
Goal: Consumer protection
Governed by The State Board of Veterinary Medicine in each state
The ACT usually defines:
* What veterinary medicine is
* Who can practice veterinary medicine
* When a person who is practicing veterinary medicine
* The minimum standards for the practice of veterinary
medicine
* Standards for veterinary facilities
The Board determines the:
* Penalties for violations
* Administration of veterinary licenses and examinations
* Licensing of veterinary premises
* Rules for conduct of the business of the veterinary
board
Generally a veterinarian can only practice in the state in which he/she is
licensed. The exception to this rule is when the veterinarian is serving in
a consultative capacity across state boarders.
The AVMA has publishes “Model Veterinary Practice Act” and “ Model
Practice Act for Veterinary Technicians” – these serve as guidelines for
the development for the individual State Practice Acts.
A veterinarian is given the rights to:
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diagnose
prognose
prescribe
perform surgery
- violation of this represents the practice of veterinary medicine
without a license – it is prosecutable!!
The veterinary staff is permitted with the supervision
and in compliance with other laws, to provide
supplementary care.
It is up to the veterinarian to determine the
competence of the staff member.
It is also up to the veterinarian to provide for the
level supervision of necessary to complete the task
(correctly).
Not all states require licensure for veterinary
technicians, however where a license is required, the
technician is usually permitted to perform the
following tasks under immediate supervision of the
veterinarian:
* induce anesthesia
* perform dental extractions that do not
entail a surgical procedure such as
sectioning a tooth or incising tissue.
* Provide surgical assistance to the
veterinarian as permitted by state law
Direct Supervision is required for the following
tasks:
* perform euthanasia
* Collect or administer blood
* Apply splints or slings
* Clean, polish and float teeth
Indirect supervision is required for the following
tasks:
* Place intravenous catheters and begin
intravenous administration of fluids
* Administer medications, including the
giving of injections except where
prohibited by law
* Collect urine, fecal and blood samples
* Perform skin scrapings
* conduct routine laboratory procedures
* provide first aid to an animal in an
emergency
Remember!! The veterinary assistant is there to assist
the veterinarian and/or the technician. The level of
supervision is higher for the assistant.
LOCAL LAWS
Local laws affect the community and the county.
Local laws may cover the following areas:
* business license
* zoning (location of facility)
* leash laws
- may require that all dogs outside a
fenced area be on a leash. Any animal
roaming freely is subject to capture and
detention
* nuisance laws
- noise levels (barking)
- soling (failure to clean feces)
- destruction of private property
* licenses
- some cities/counties require a license for
dogs and cats
- current rabies vaccination
* type and number of animals that may be
owned
* permits to breed pets
The client often turns the veterinarian and his/her
staff to answer questions.
Frequently asked questions:
1. How many pets can I have?
2. How and where do I license my pet?
3. How much does it cost to license my pet?
4. What special permits do I need for breeding
or ownership of certain species of
animals?
Source:
Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant
by Paula Pattengale DVM, MA
Blackwell Publishing