Farm and Home Biosecurity
Livestock/Row Crop Producer
Rules Veterinarians Practice
A veterinarian, like any other person involved in a
profession, has rules to obey and a certain level of expected conduct and
competency to maintain. Any veterinarian in any state is subject to the same
rules that apply to any citizen of the United States and any state resident.
However, there are also additional rules that apply to the practice of
veterinary medicine.
The practice of veterinary medicine in a state of the United States is
governed by a set of rules and laws usually known as the Veterinary Practice
Act. The rules are usually set forth by the legislative body of the state and
are established to define the practice of veterinary medicine in the state,
establish a veterinary board, and establish penalties for the illegal practice
of veterinary medicine. The veterinary profession is also regulated in each
state by a state Veterinary Medical Board. The exact name of the Board may vary
from state to state or the overseeing agency may be different; but the rules,
regulations, and policies are similar.
In the State of Arkansas the office of the Arkansas Veterinary Medical
Examining Board is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Board consists of
5 members appointed by the governor of the state. There are four veterinarians
on the Board and one public member. The purpose of the veterinary board is
multiple. Some of the duties include: examining and determining the
qualifications of applicants to practice in the state, issue of veterinary
licenses, investigate complaints against veterinarians, and enforce the
provisions of the veterinary practice act.
These rules and regulations are designed to protect the general public and
their animals by insuring that licensed qualified veterinarians are engaged in
the practice of veterinary medicine. The practice act and/or veterinary board
also outlines a code of professional conduct for veterinarians to follow. This
code lists activities which are considered as unprofessional conduct such as the
"guarantee of a cure". A veterinarian that violates the rules of the
practice act and/or veterinary board is investigated by the veterinary board and
may be issued a citation temporary suspension of their license or a revocation
of their license to practice. Unprofessional conduct, conviction of a felony of
moral turpitude, negligence, animal cruelty, dishonesty, etc., etc. Are all
grounds for investigation and punishment.
The diagnosis of disease in an animal by a veterinarian is also somewhat
regulated by the provisions adopted in a state by the agency with the
responsibility to control animal diseases in the state. This is usually the
domain of the state veterinarian or state department of agriculture. The agency
charged with this responsibility usually issues a list of diseases that are
considered reportable. A "reportable disease" in one that is to be
reported to the agency in charge of animal disease control. These diseases are
those that have the potential to be communicable to people, easily spread, a
foreign animal disease (ie. one not endemic to the United States). A few
examples are rabies, Brucellosis, Tuberculosis, Avian Influenza, Exotic
Newcastle, Anthrax, and Hog Cholera. In most states a veterinarian is legally
obligated to report any disease listed as reportable in that state or the United
States if the disease is only suspected in an affected animal. In other words
the veterinarian does not need to definitively diagnose the disease only suspect
it.
The reasons for these rules and regulation to practice is to protect health
of the public, protect the health of animals, protect the food supply and
prevent deadly and costly disease outbreaks. They also insure that a
veterinarian is practicing with a certain level of knowledge, and professional
conduct and obeys the laws of the state and nation.
F. Dustan Clark
Extension Poultry Health Veterinarian
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