VN April 2023

Vetnews | April 2023 33 Rule 4 deals with the general principles of professional conduct. Rule 4(3) sets out the level of professional care expected of a veterinarian. It is stated that for the sake of the welfare of an animal, a veterinarian may not refuse treatment of the animal without a valid reason. Several valid reasons for refusal are given, which include a dangerous animal. Some exotic pets, such as venomous snakes and spiders, will fall into this category. Veterinarians will have a valid reason to refuse treatment of such patients. The Code of Conduct notes that, in line with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, veterinarians also have freedom of choice and freedom of association. However, all freedoms must always be balanced with the rights of others. The SAVC provides a list of circumstances under which refusal to treat a patient may be considered in paragraph 3.2.2. Some of the more relevant points here include: - An uncontrollable animal. - Where the veterinarian or assistants are placed in a life-threatening position. - If the veterinarian does not have the required knowledge and skills for the species, procedures required, or conditions that need to be treated. Paragraph 4.7 of the Code of Conduct specifically deals with a veterinarian's involvement with species that are not usually dealt with. What stands out is that there is still an ethical duty to treat the patient in an emergency to the best of the veterinarian's abilities. If possible, it would be wise to seek telephonic guidance from another skilled veterinarian in such circumstances. Therefore, veterinarians who feel uncomfortable treating exotic pets can refuse to treat the patients and refer clients to another skilled veterinarian. But the veterinarian must inform the client that she does not normally treat the species. The SAVC advises veterinarians to keep a written acknowledgement from the client that this has been communicated. A note entered on the patient's record and initialled by the client is sufficient. Veterinarians are professionals and will always be judged as such. This can place a veterinarian in a precarious position. If you refuse to treat a patient for a valid reason, you will still have to justify your decision if there is a complaint against you for refusing to treat a patient. On the other hand, if you treat a patient without the necessary skills and knowledge, you also open yourself up to potential complaints. It is, therefore, imperative to be prepared for these situations. Make sure that you have a list of specialists or veterinary colleagues who are interested in treating exotic patients to whom you can refer these patients or whom you can consult in an emergency. Also, ensure that you keep detailed records in these situations in case there is a complaint at a later stage. If you have any questions in this regard, please feel free to contact me at trudie@legalvetservices.co.za . v Legal Mews