Roles and responsibilities of veterinary surgeons and the law

Question 1

Criminal law

Answer 1

• Governs society and involves crimes against the State, for which punishment will occur
• For veterinary surgeons this involves compliance with the terms of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
• Prosecutions are usually brought about by the Crown Prosecution Service
• The accused person in known as the defendant

Question 2

Civil law

Answer 2

• Governs relationships between citizens
• Protects individuals from harm caused by other
individuals or a company
• The person who suffered from harm is awarded
compensation under the ‘duty of care’
• VS’s owe a duty of care to a client whose animal is in for treatment

Question 3

Duty of care

Answer 3

• A legal obligation requiring that individuals adhere to a standard of care while performing any acts in which they could foreseeably harm others
• VS’s owe a duty of care to clients, their employers and colleagues
• Although there are moral obligations, there is no legal duty of care owed to animals (only to its owner)

Question 4

Common Law

Answer 4

• Common law is in effect legal precedent that is made by judges sitting in court. Common law is constantly changing
• This is because of the way in which judges interpret the law by applying the facts of the case they are hearing to those prior decisions

Question 5

Vet Surgeons Act 1966

Answer 5

• The Act provides for
• The regulation and management of the veterinary profession
• The registration of veterinary surgeons
• Regulating their professional education and professional conduct
• Cancelling or suspending registration in cases of misconduct

The RCVS, the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the UK, follows the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) to protect the public interest and to safeguard animal health and welfare

Question 6

Arenas of professional accountability

Answer 6

• Public – criminal law / criminal courts
• Patient – civil law / civil courts
• Professional – Code of Professional Conduct / Professional Conduct Committee
• Employer – contract of employment / employment tribunal

Question 7

Vets and vet practices mitigate this as all vets are required to have…

Answer 7

e insurance that covers them for professional negligence (and some, if not most for misconduct, but not compulsory)