Veterinarian in Society

Responsibility of a veterinarian to the society

RESPONSIBILITY OF VETERINARIAN TO THE SOCIETY

• Today's veterinarians are members of an important health profession. In taking the veterinarian's oath, a doctor solemnly swears to use his or her scientific knowledge and skills "for the benefit of society, through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge."
• Veterinarians are professionals who must make adhoc decisions that influence the fate of animals and affect the lives of the people who own or look after them.
• They also have to address issues of public interest, such as public health.
• The immediate interest of an animal is to live in an environment that it can adapt to in the absence of lasting pain or impairment of health. Man bestows values on animals, including those of economic, recreational, intrinsic and naturalistic origin, although they are clearly not aware of this fact.
• The context and population within which an animal belongs are determining factors for the way in which the veterinary profession relates to it, and are beyond the influence that respect for an individual animal might have.
• Doctors of Veterinary Medicine are medical professionals whose primary responsibility is protecting the health and welfare of animals and people. Veterinarians diagnose and control animal diseases, treat sick and injured animals, prevent the transmission of animal diseases ("zoonoses") to people, and advise owners on proper care of pets and livestock. They ensure a safe food supply by maintaining the health of food animals.
• Wild, zoo, farm, and companion animals are an integral component of our culture and socioeconomic environment.
• Animal welfare, or the humane care of animals, is a societal responsibility of the veterinarian. Veterinarians are also involved in wildlife preservation and conservation and public health of the human population.
• The veterinary profession is essential for the proper care of animals kept in captivity and, to a lesser extent, for the health and welfare of wild fauna. If there were no veterinary medicine, it would surely be invented for the benefit of animals and mankind. This does not mean, however, that veterinarians always do 'the right thing'.
• Only an acute awareness of ethical dilemmas, and an ability to critically reflect, can assist in the making of appropriate decisions and the finding of acceptable compromises.