Information for Veterinarians
The Role of the Veterinarian in Animal Abuse Cases
Suspicion of animal abuse can be a paradoxical situation for a veterinary medical professional. Conflict may arise between professional and legal responsibility. Veterinarians need to balance their responsibilities to the animal, the client and society in general.
Veterinarians’ professional obligations to society are highlighted in the Veterinary Oath. In summary, this includes a commitment to:
- use scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society;
- promote animal health and welfare;
- relieve animal suffering;
- protect the health of the public and environment;
- advance comparative medical knowledge.
Veterinary Profession Act
In addition, Alberta veterinarians are regulated by the Veterinary Profession Act and General Regulations of Alberta. Part 3 of the Alberta General Regulations contains the legislated Code of Ethics for veterinarians. In regards to this discussion, a veterinarian must:
- be dedicated to the benefit of society, the conservation of animal resources and the relief of the suffering of animals
- hold in strict confidence all information acquired in the course of professional relationships with clients, and should not divulge that information unless expressly or implicitly authorized by the client or required by law to do so.
It is very clear that a veterinarian has a professional obligation to care for the animal and to relieve its suffering. The conflict arises when they feel it is necessary to report their concerns for the animal to some outside authority. Is this a violation of their legislated responsibility to confidentiality and client/ practitioner privilege? There certainly is a challenge in balancing the dedication to society generally and the dedication to the individual client and patient. This conflict is documented in the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) position statement on animal abuse. “The CVMA recognizes that veterinarians are in a position to observe occasions of animal abuse and have a moral obligation to report suspected cases … In addition society has an obligation to support those veterinarians who report in good faith … CVMA recognizes that moral obligation is not legal obligation.”
Animal Protection Act protection for Veterinarians
The Animal Protection Act (APA) as revised in 2006 provides some protection for individuals who take action in regards to reporting but falls short of mandating reporting:
“14(2) if a person, on reasonable and probable grounds, believes an animal is in distress and reports the distress to a peace officer, no action lies against that person for reporting unless the person reports maliciously or without reasonable or probable grounds for the belief.”
Subsequently, Council of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association adopted the following statement for its members in regards to reporting animal abuse. “Members must take appropriate action, which may include reporting to appropriate authorities, in the case of animal welfare infractions and animal abuse. Veterinarians will not be held professionally accountable for breaking client confidentiality when acting on this directive.” While this statement in itself cannot insulate veterinarians form their legal obligations regarding confidentiality, it does assure them that their peers support their actions and they will not be considered guilty of unprofessional conduct if a complaint arises. This is intended to set the standard by which a normal practitioner should act and serves as a basis for professional judgement.
