1C. Your responsibilities to your patients

(Patient, in this context, means any animal under the care of a veterinary surgeon acting in his or her professional capacity)

1.  A veterinary surgeon must:

a. treat all patients of whatever species, humanely, with respect, and with welfare as the primary consideration

b. if in practice, take steps to provide 24-hour emergency cover for the care of animals of those species treated by the practice during normal working hours.

This applies equally to veterinary surgeons working in:

i.  charities providing veterinary services

ii.  neutering and vaccination clinics and other limited service providers (see Part 2E - Running the Business - Limited Service Providers) and

iii.  referral practices (see Part 2D - Maintaining Practice Standards - 24-hour Emergency Cover), including those in universities

Emergency cover means, at least, immediate first aid and pain relief.

With prior arrangement, preferably confirmed in writing, 24-hour emergency cover may be provided by, or in conjunction with, one or more other veterinary practices.

c. when on duty providing 24-hour emergency cover:

i.  not unreasonably refuse to provide first aid and pain relief for any animal of a species treated by the practice during normal working hours

ii.  not unreasonably refuse to provide first aid and facilitate the provision of pain relief for all other species until such time as a more appropriate emergency veterinary service accepts responsibility for the animal

iii.   not unreasonably refuse to accept responsibility for an animal from a colleague, in order to provide first aid and pain relief for that animal

Clients of another practice may be directed to their own practice, at least in the first instance.

Whether attendance away from the practice premises is essential, or not, is the decision of the on-duty veterinary surgeon taking into account the needs of the animal and the relevant health and safety issues (see Annex 3A, '24-hour emergency cover')

d. having reached a provisional diagnosis taking into account the animal's age, the extent of any injuries or disease and the likely quality of life after treatment, make a full and realistic assessment of the prognosis and the options for treatment or euthanasia based on welfare considerations

e. if the owner cannot afford private treatment and may be eligible for charitable assistance, re-direct the animal for further treatment to a charity where possible, supplying full details of the case in the proper manner

f. maintain proper standards in practice premises and equipment, and in relation to inpatient care and supervision

g. prescribe medicinal products responsibly

h. a veterinary surgeon must not cause any patient to suffer

i. by carrying out any unnecessary mutilation

ii. by excessive restraint or discipline

iii. by failing to maintain adequate pain control and relief of suffering

iv. by neglect