Principles of Veterinary Professional Code of Conduct
Principles of veterinary professional code of conduct are:
- To develop, improve and conserve the livestock resources.
- To prevent cruelty to animals.
- To provide protection against spread of diseases and relief to the suffering animals.
- To impart sound, technical opinions in Vetero-legal cases.
- To create proper market for sale or purchase of animals and their products.
- To render services to the society for their economic uplift.
Veterinary Council of India
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 66 read with section 31 of Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 (52 of 1984) the Veterinary Council of India, with previous approval of the Central Government, hereby makes the following regulations, namely:
Short title and commencement:
These regulations may be called, the Veterinary Council of India (Standard of Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Code of Ethics, for Veterinary Practitioners) Regulations, 1992.
Definitions:
- “veterinarian” means a registered veterinary practitioner as defined in the Act;
- “Act” means the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 (52 of 1984); “regulations” means the Standard of Professional Conduct, Etiquetie and
- Code of Ethics Regulations. The definition limits its meaning to the terms used within the said regulations;
- “patient” shall mean an animal, bird or a group of them being treated or managed or advised to be treated or managed by a veterinarian;
- “client” means the legal owner of the patient or his representative or the person or persons
- directly assigned responsibility of the patient;
- “profession” means veterinary profession covering all its branches, namely, animal health, animal production and technology, and shall include any sister
- profession wherein veterinary service is extended or is sought or is made use of, namely, laboratory animal medicine, animal experimentation and vaccine production.
Declaration and oath by a veterinarian:
- Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of livestock resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of knowledge in veterinary science.
- I shall practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.
- I accept as a lifelong obligation the continuous improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.
General Principles
Character of the veterinarian:
- The primary object of the veterinary profession is to render service to humanity by facilitating better animal production, ensuring veterinary public health as also caring for the sick animals and alleviating their suffering; financial reward is always a subordinate consideration.
- Whosoever chooses the profession assumes the obligation to conduct oneself in accordance with the noble ideals of serving the dumb and mute creatures. The veterinarian shall be an upright person and shall be sincere and diligent in caring for the sick and managing the healthy animals.
- He/She shall be modest, sober, and prompt in discharging his/her duties. He/She shall conduct himself/herself with propriety in his/her profession and in all actions of his/her life.
Standards of character and moral:
The veterinary profession expects from its members the highest level of character and morals. Every veterinarian owes to the profession and the public a duty to achieve such a level.
Veterinarian’s responsibility:
A veterinarian shall merit the trust and confidence of his/her clients, rendering their animals full measure of service with devotion.
Advertising:
Solicitation of clients by a veterinarian directly or indirectly through an advertisement in news papers, handbills etc. in a manner projecting himself/herself to be in a position of superiority which he/she himself/herself has not achieved, is unethical.
A veterinarian practitioner is permitted formal announcement in press about the following
matters namely
- starting of his/her practice;
- change of type of practice;
- change of address;
- temporary absence from duty;
- resumption of practice;
- succeeding to another’s practice.
He/She shall further not advertise through price lists or publicity materials of manufacturing firms or
traders with whom he/she may be connected in any capacity, nor shall he/she publish cases, operations or letters of thanks from patients in non-professional newspapers or journals.
Fee for professional service:
A veterinarian engaged in practice / advisory service / consultancy, shall limit the source of his/her income to the fee received for services rendered to the client. Remuneration received for such services shall be in the form and amount specifically announced to the client at the time the service is rendered.
Patent and copyrights:
A veterinarian may patent surgical instruments, appliances and medicine or copyright applications of methods and procedure.
Running an Open Shop: (Dispensing of drugs and appliances by veterinarians)
A veterinarian shall not run an open shop for sale of medicine for dispensing prescriptions by doctors other than himself.
Rebates, gifts and commissions:
A veterinarian shall not give, or receive any gift, or commission from any person for in consideration for the referring or procuring of, any client.
Secret Remedies:
The prescribing or dispensing by a veterinarian of secret medicines or other secret remedial agents, of which he/she does not know the composition or the manufacture, or promotion of their use, is unethical.
Evasion of Legal Restrictions:
A veterinarian shall observe the laws of the country in regulating the practice of veterinary medicine and will not assist others to evade such laws.
Duties of Veterinarians to their Clients and Patients
Obligation to the patient:
Though a veterinarian is not bound to treat cases of each and every one asking for his/her service, except in emergencies, he/she shall for the sake of humanity and the noble tradition of the profession, not only be ever ready to respond to the need of the sick and injured animals/birds, but shall also be mindful of the high character of his/her mission and the responsibility he/she incurs in the discharge of his/her professional duties.
Termination of service:
A veterinarian shall withdraw his/her service under following valid reasons:
- Where he/she finds another veterinarian in attendance.
- Where remedies/advice other than those prescribed hy him/her are being used.
- Where his/her remedies/advice and instructions are refused.
- Where he/she feels that the illness or the need of his/her service is an imposture and that he/she is being made a party to a false pretence.
- Where a client is resorting to the use of intoxicating drugs, means of quackery or witchcraft against medical advice; and
- Where complete information/history concerning the fact and a client does not supply circumstances of the case.
- The discovery that the malady is incurable / the client’s problems are unsolvable, is no excuse to discontinue attendance by a veterinarian as long as his/her client desire the service.
Act of negligence:
- No veterinarian shall willfully commit an act of negligence that may deprive patient of the care that is absolutely necessary.
- A veterinarian is expected to show such diligence and skill in service as would be expected of another veterinarian of similar qualifications, experience and attainments.
- His/Her acts of commission or omission shall not be judged by any non-veterinary standards, but as those expected from a veterinarian of his/her training, standing and experience.
- A veterinarian shall use any drug prepared under standard pharmacological principles and shall adopt all necessary preparations / precautions, like sterilization and verification of doses as are normally prescribed for that drug.
Behaviour to patients:
The demeanour of a veterinarian towards his/her patient shall always be kind, tender and full of patience. Every patient shall be treated with attention, consideration and concentration.
Visit:
Not withstanding the fact that a veterinarian is not bound to visit his/her patient/client, he/she shall make it at the indicated hour, once he/she had committed to do so.
Prognosis:
- A veterinarian shall neither exaggerate nor minimize the gravity of a patient’s condition. He/she shall ensure that the legal owner of the patient has such knowledge of the patient’s condition as will serve the best interest of the patient and its owner (client).
- In case of dangerous manifestations, or when grave and highly communicable diseases are encountered he shall not fail to inform the client and those to whom the disease can be of potent danger.