VMD 511: Animal Welfare, Ethics and Jurisprudence (2+0)

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.