CVO partners in professionalism reading

Question 1

why the veterinary profession is regulated

Answer 1

• Regulatory Colleges, many of which exist in human health care, were established to protect the public’s right to safe, effective and ethical service.

Question 2

what it means to be a licensed professional

Answer 2

• public confidence that they can receive safe, ethical, quality care

Question 3

what is profession-based regulation (wrt veterinary medicine in Ontatio)

Answer 3

• In Ontario, veterinarians have the privilege of profession-based regulation.
• the government trusts the veterinary profession to keep the public interest, rather than self-interest, at the forefront in regulating the practice and conduct of veterinarians.

Question 4

• what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the work of the College is guided by the public interest?
• who are the college and councils accountable to?
• how is the college funded?

Answer 4

• Public members are appointed by the provincial government to serve on Council and Committees.
• The College and Council are accountable to the provincial government through the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
• The College is funded by the licence fees paid by each veterinarian in the province.

Question 5

what does it mean to be a professional?

Answer 5

Being a professional has meaning in society. It indicates that an individual has undertaken training and education to hold specialized knowledge and skills. The public expects that professionals will conduct themselves appropriately by demonstrating certain behaviours, attitudes and skills that are perceived to mean that an individual is competent, ethical and professional.

Question 6

what does veterinary professionalism mean?

Answer 6

Professionalism is a set of behaviours, attitudes and skills that reflects the values of the profession, as expressed in the Code of Ethics, and reinforces the social contract between the profession and the public.
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* The veterinarian uses their judgment in any given interaction to respond with behaviours, attitudes and skills that are appropriate to the context and draw on the elements of professionalism.
* While basic guidance for professional behaviours is established
in regulations and professional standards, the expectation is that veterinarians will work respectfully and collaboratively with clients and colleagues, putting the interest of the patient above self-interest.
* The elements of professionalism are further defined by a set of guiding principles, professional duties, and professional expectations.

Question 7

In approaching their professional work, a veterinarian must
consider:

Answer 7

the social contract between the profession and the public.
* A veterinarian is guided by their responsibilities to animals, clients, themselves and colleagues, and the profession and society. The elements of professionalism are further defined by these guiding principles and professional duties that reflect the values of the profession.

Question 8

veterinarian responsibilities to animals:

Answer 8

Beneficence
Non-maleficence
Competence
Conflict of Interest
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Beneficence
* Acts in the patient’s best interest
* Recognizes animal health and welfare first
* Interactions with patients demonstrate kindness and dignity
* Recognizes the obligation to report to
a provincial animal welfare inspector (Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019, S.O. 2019, c. 13, s 14) when there are reasonable grounds to believe that an animal is being abused or neglected
* Accepts professional responsibility for a patient, and continues to provide services until they are no longer required or wanted; until another veterinarian has assumed responsibility for the patient; or until the client has been given reasonable notice that the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) has been discontinued
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Non-Maleficence
* Makes a reasonable and conscientious effort to prevent harm to patients and society
* If harm occurs, discloses it to the client and takes appropriate steps to prevent recurrence
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Competence
* Responsible for maintaining the knowledge and skills necessary to provide competent, quality care to patients
* Committed to lifelong learning throughout their career
* Recognizes limitations or deficiencies in knowledge and skills
* Ensures their practice matches their level of competence
* Refers cases appropriately to a colleague with the relevant competence
* Recommends or seeks additional opinions or services when appropriate
* Participates in quality improvement activities to improve their practice and maintain knowledge and skills
* Participates in quality improvement initiatives and strategies to deal with errors, adverse events, close calls, and disclosure
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Conflict of Interest
* Recognizes and discloses conflicts of interest that arise and resolves them in the best interest of patients
* “Conflict of interest” means an actual, potential or perceived interest of a
licensed member that may undermine the impartiality or appearance of impartiality
of that licensed member. For example, the licensed member has a personal or business interest that could influence their judgment in performing their duties

Question 9

what are the veterinarians responsibilities to clients

Answer 9

• Confidentiality and Privacy
• Communication
• Autonomy of the Client
• Boundaries
• Human Rights
• Conflict of Interest
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  Confidentiality and Privacy
• Respects and maintains the client’s privacy and confidentiality
• Safeguards confidential information
• Does not disclose confidential information about the client or animal to anyone other than the client or another veterinarian treating the animal, unless the client gives consent or animal welfare or the public interest may be compromised
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  Communication

Collaborates and works effectively with clients to provide quality care to animals
Communication with clients demonstrates courtesy, honesty, dignity and respect
Aids the client’s understanding of the information exchanged
Ref rains f rom behaving in a manner that may reasonably be considered offensive to others or disruptive to the workplace or patient care
Responds promptly and courteously to clients’ complaints
If conflicts arise, the veterinarian works with the client to resolve the conflict respectfully
Accepts professional responsibility for a patient, and continues to provide services until they are no longer required or wanted; until another veterinarian has assumed responsibility for the patient; or until the client has been given reasonable notice that the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) has been discontinued
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Autonomy of the Client
* Provides clients with the information they need to make informed decisions about their animal’s medical care and answers questions to the best of their ability
* Respects the client’s right to accept or decline veterinary care recommendations
* Facilitates a client’s reasonable request for a second opinion or referral
* Refers clients to another veterinarian who performs a service that they do not perform or refuse to perform
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Boundaries
* Recognizes the power imbalance inherent in the VCPR and assumes responsibility for maintaining appropriate professional boundaries always
* Respects the personal boundaries of clients and their rights to privacy and confidentiality
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Human Rights
* Demonstrates cultural sensitivity in their communication with clients
* Avoids discrimination based on, but not limited to, age, gender, race, national
or ethnic origin, religion, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status
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Conflict of Interest
* Avoids situations that are or may be perceived to be a conflict of interest
* Provides independent and impartial professional advice and discloses any conflicts of interest to the client

Question 10

veterinarians responsibilities to themselves and colleagues

Answer 10

• wellness
• collegiality and civility
• boundaries
• education / mentorship
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  Wellness
• Promotes and maintains their health and wellbeing
• Recognizes when they are not well enough to provide competent care to patients
• Seeks help if necessary to ensure their own wellness
• Takes reasonable steps to address adverse physical or mental health or performance that could impair their fitness to practice; or, that results in harm, or a risk of harm, to animal health or welfare, public health or the public interest
• Takes reasonable steps to ensure that animals are not put at risk and that the interests of the public are protected when concerns arise about a colleague’s fitness to practice
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  Collegiality and Civility
• Interactions with colleagues are collegial and demonstrate courtesy, honesty, dignity and respect
• Collaborates and works effectively with colleagues to ensure the comprehensiveness and continuity of patient care
• Ref rains f rom behaving in a manner that may reasonably be considered offensive to others or disruptive to the workplace or patient care
• Avoids impugning the reputation of colleagues for personal motives
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  Boundaries
• Respects the personal boundaries of colleagues and co-workers and their rights to privacy and confidentiality
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  Education/Mentorship

Role models and teaches professional behavior in all facets of the member’s chosen area of practice
Provides to colleagues and accepts f rom colleagues teaching and mentoring to help ensure that high quality care is provided
to the public

Question 11

veterinarian responsibilites to profession and society

Answer 11

• Privilege of Profession-based Regulation
• Quality Assurance
• lifelong learning
• boundaries
• public health
• represent the professsion
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  Privilege of Profession-based Regulation
• Recognizes that profession-based regulation is a privilege and that each licensed member has a professional responsibility to merit this privilege by seeking trustworthiness and building confidence in each member individually and the profession as a whole
• Participates in the regulatory process to ensure the continuity of profession- based regulation
• Recognizes the responsibility to ensure quality care through quality improvement and assurance activities as well as responding pro-actively to concerns around practice/behaviour
• Contributes to defining professional practice standards and expectations of the profession and upholds the standards in their own practice
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  Quality Assurance
• Takes a collaborative approach by accepting and supporting meaningful peer reviews as a mechanism for upholding the standards of the profession
• Effectively learns f rom critical incidents to reduce the occurrence of medical error and adverse outcomes
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  Lifelong Learning
• Commits to lifelong learning and continuous improvement throughout their career
• Seeks out new evidence and knowledge and applies it in practice
• Maintains an awareness of relevant practice guidelines and implements them as appropriate
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  Boundaries
• Does not ask for or accept gifts, inducements or referrals that may affect or be perceived to affect their professional judgment
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  Public Health
• Recognizes the profession’s responsibility
  to society in matters relating to public health, including zoonotic diseases, food safety, protecting and improving both animal health and human health, and
  Antimicrobial stewardship
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  Represent the Profession
• Recognizes a responsibility to give generally held opinions of the profession when interpreting scientific knowledge to the public; and discloses when presenting an opinion that is contrary to the generally held opinion of the profession

Question 12

is profession-based regulation a right?

Answer 12

no its a priveledge