Ethic + MO Practice Acts Flashcards
Ethics
A) The discipline concerning what is good/bad or right/wrong w/ moral duty + obligation
B) A group of moral principles + sets of values
C) The principles of conduct governing an individual or profession
D) Standards of behavior
Professional Guidelines
Law and Regulations
Professional Ethics
-rules and guidelines
-goals rather than mandates
-NAVTA
Personal Ethics
Conflicts w/ mandates of the law or regulations of the board or NAVTA guidelines
Conflicts with clients
-withdraw from case
IDEALS
- define, uphold and improve standards
- Contribute to body of knowledge
- Understand and support animal/human bond
Code of Ethics
- Aid society + animals
- Prevent + relieve suffering
- Remain competent through life-long learning
- Promote public health
- Collab w/ other members of the vet profession
- Protect confidential info
- Assume accountability for individual professional actions + judgement
- Safeguard public + profession
- Assist w/ efforts to ensure conditions of employment consistent w/ the excellent care for animals
- Uphold laws/regulations that apply to the techs responsibilities as a member of the animal health care team
- Represent their credentials or identify themselves w/ specialty organizations only if the designation has been awarded or earned
Profession-Related Laws/Regulations
Most laws + regulations that govern vet tech are state based
Technicians should have a strong understanding of state laws
-licensing
-professional conduct
-discipline
Familiar w/ some of the areas governed by fed law
Laws (Statutes)
Each state has a practice act
Primary law that governs the practice of vet med/technology
-must be enacted by state legislature
- approved by the house of representatives and the state senate
-signed into law by governor
A proposed amendment or change is a bill and goes through the same process
Practice Act
Defines practice of veterinarians and vet techs
Informs of practices in which they may engage
Set general or specific parameters for entry into practice
Discipline for vet and vet techs
Creates board and authorizes it to oversee and regulate
Unlicensed practice is prohibited
-subject to sanction of the board
-criminal penalties
-imprisonment
State Board
Regulates the practice of the profession
5-7 veterinarians
1-2 vet technicians
1-2 public members
Responsible for conduct
-licensed professionals
Entry into Practice
License
-board has reviewed and approved the qualifications to practice
Certificate
-some other entity has reviewed and approved qualifications to practice and has certified the person is competent to practice
Registrations
-neither state board or independent entity has reviewed or approved. However, person must register and provide info to state board
Good Moral Character
Verifies by signing a statement under legal penalty of prosecution or perjury
-include underage drinking, disorderly conduct, DUI or DWI, drug related felonies, etc.
-barred from licensure for 5-10 years
Letters of recommendations
Criminal history record check
-lived for past 5 years
Federal criminal history record check, includes all states
Background Checks
Crimes that must be reported
-underage drinking
-disorderly conduct
-driving while under the influence of alcohol (DUI)
-driving while intoxicated (DWI)
Some states have absolute bars to licensure; most states have 5 and 10-year bars
License Refusal
Crimes of moral turpitude
1. Involves dishonesty or deception
-shoplifting, theft by unlawful taking or deception, embezzlement, forgery, writing bad checks
2. Crimes of depravity
-murder, rape, distribution of drugs, misdemeanors such as stalking, harassment, and assault
3. Interference with justice
-eluding a police officer, interference with criminal investigation
License of Renewal
License Issued = required to renew
-renewal period varies
-fit to hold the license
-renewal application
-renewal fee
-continuing education
Grounds for Disciplinary Actions
Grounds set by board
-State Practice Act
-Regulations of state board
Technical Violations
No direct link between misconduct and harm to an animal
1. practicing on lapsed license
2. deficient continuing education
3. conviction of crime not related to veterinary medicine
Substantive Violations
Bear directly on practice conduct
-unprofessional conduct
-incompetence
-deviation from standards of practice
-practicing beyond the scope of this practice
-misrepresentation
-crimes of moral turpitude
Animal abuse, neglect, cruelty
Impairment
-drug/alcohol addiction
-mental disease
Aiding and abetting another person to violate the practice act
Illegal act
Criminal conviction
Fraud and Deceit
Can be persecuted and disciplined for violating any rule of the board or any rule in the practice act
May be prevented entry into the practice of the profession
Falsifying info on an application for licensure, omitting info, cheating on exam
Falsifying health certificate or other document
Signing a form for the vet that the vet is required to sign
Fraudulent or deceitful conduct related to client or employer
Others…
Misinterpretation
-saying something that is not accurate
-telling a client that a certain treatment will cure a patient
Animal Abuse
-abuse, neglect, or cruelty
-some boards consider this to be deviation from the standards of acceptable and prevailing practice rather than a separate offense
Others…
Committing or Aiding Illegal Professional Acts
-engaging in an illegal act that is related to the profession
-providing a performance enhancing drug to the owner of a competition animal
-assisting an unlicensed person in performing tasks that they legally should not
Working Impaired
-impaired by drugs, alcohol, or by an untreated mental disease
-licensee must participate in treatment program
-licensee must submit random observed urine samples
Others…
Practicing beyond Scope of Practice
-most serious
-doing things you should not be doing
-performing surgery, diagnosing, attesting to animal’s health status, offering a prognosis, prescribing tx or drugs
Unprofessional Conduct
-conduct that puts down the profession in the eyes of the public
Others…
Malpractice (Negligence)
-deviation from or failure to conform to acceptable standards of practice
-acts, errors, and omissions
Incompetence
-conduct that increases the risk that negligence will occur, even if negligence has not occurred
-sloppy lab procedures (tainted samples), incomplete record keeping (giving wrong meds), improper sanitation (infected with virus or infection)
Process of Disciplinary Action
- Notice
-provided in writing
-factual events
-certified mail, returned receipt - Right to hearing
-hearing
-licensee present evidence and provide responses
-public record
-lawyer not necessary, but recommended
~state will not pay for lawyer because it is a disciplinary matter; not criminal
Disciplinary Sanctions
- Revocation
-most severe; permanent or reapply after 5-10 years - Suspension
-indefinite or definite; complete specific tasks - Probation
-permitted to practice, higher level of supervision and limits - Reprimand
- Civil Penalty (fine)
Additional Laws
- Labor Laws
- Hostile work environment
- Safety in the workplace
- Medical waste management laws
- Controlled substance
- Animal related laws
-animals used in research/education
-horse protection
-endangered species act
-animal cruelty prevention
Missouri Practice Act
Missouri Veterinary Medical Board
- “the board”
Defines the practice of veterinary medicine and vet technology
Definitions
Animal
Board
Emergency
Minimum standards
RVT
Supervision
-immediate
-direct
-indirect
Supervisor
Unregistered assistant
Veterinarian
Vet-client-patient relationship
Veterinary Facility
Statutes; Vet tech, registration of, application, contents-qualifications
- Submit written application to Board
- Application contains statement that is made under oath that all info is true
- To qualify
-18 years of age
-good moral character
-graduated from AVMA accredited program or from school with board approved curriculum
-has passed examinations prescribed by Board
Technician, admittance to exam-failure to qualify, notice
Board determines applicant is qualified, admits to the next scheduled exam
Not qualified, applicant notified in writing
No person denied because of race, creed, sex, color, or national origin