Vetnuus | Desember 2023 36 « BACK TO CONTENTS It is safe to say that veterinarians generally have a deep love and passion for animals and nature. For some the ultimate dream is to work with wildlife. Very seldom do aspiring wildlife veterinarians consider the plethora of ethical and legal dilemmas that they would have to negotiate in practice. Although the Veterinary Act1 and the Rules2 provide the legal framework for veterinarians, many situations require further guidance. To assist veterinarians in making sound professional, moral, and ethical decisions, the SAVC drafted a Code of Conduct for veterinarians. Although it applies to all veterinarians, it contains a specific section focused on the conduct of wildlife veterinarians. In this article, the “Code of Conduct for the Wildlife Veterinarian” (the “CoC”) will be discussed further. Wildlife Veterinarians must have Specific Knowledge It is interesting to note that the CoC stipulates five aspects of which wildlife veterinarians must have sound knowledge. It is unusual since there is no general requirement for sound knowledge or a similar requirement for any of the other specialist groups. It is possible that these are aspects that frequently lead to complaints against veterinarians or that these are aspects that were not specifically taught to veterinarians. However, wildlife veterinarians must take note of this. The five aspects are: • Animal disease control legislation. • A basic level of epidemiological knowledge of infectious diseases affecting wild animals and domestic animals. • A basic level of knowledge of the ecological principles of wildlife management both in healthy and diseased populations. • Chemical and mechanical capture techniques used for wildlife capture. • The medicines used in wildlife capture. By including this in the CoC, the SAVC in essence makes it a requirement for anyone working with wildlife to have such knowledge. The absence of the necessary knowledge could lead to a veterinarian being found guilty of unprofessional conduct if there should be a complaint against the person. Relationship with Other Professionals Involved in Game Capture One of the unique aspects of wildlife work is that it requires teamwork. Often a large team of people is involved, and wildlife veterinarians are then required to work with people whom they don’t know and who are not under their direct control. This places a huge responsibility on wildlife veterinarians. Legal Mews WHAT WILDLIFE VETERINARIANS MUST KNOW ABOUT THE SAVC’S CODE OF CONDUCT FOR WILDLIFE VETERINARIANS Trudie Prinsloo (Legalvet Services) This article is intended to provide information and educate veterinarians on relevant aspects of the law. It is not intended as personal legal advice. SAVA is not responsible or liable for any advice or other information provided herein.
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