Law and ethics (SA18) Flashcards
What is law?
- Body of principles recognised and applied by the state in administration of justice (Wong ‘93)
- Provides ‘just’ system of punishment and system for redress against wrongdoing
What are the 2 types of law?
- Criminal Law
- Civil law
What is criminal law?
Concerned with punishment of offences by the state
What are the 3 types of criminal offence?
- Summary (Minor)
- Triable either way (Intermediate)
- Indictable (Serious)
How are most crimes defined?
- By statutes or acts of parliament
What are the most common statutes relevant to the veterinary profession and what offence would a breach of these result in?
- The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
- Animal Welfare Act 2006
- Data Protection Act 2018
- Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
Breach = Summary offence
What are the ‘Legal Redress’ in summary offences?
- Fines
- Community service
- Probationary periods
What does The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 define?
Defines veterinary surgery and who may practice within the UK
- Diagnosis of diseases and injuries of animals
- Giving advice based on diagnosis
- Medical or surgical operations on animals
Schedule 3 amendment
Who are veterinary nurses?
VETERINARY NURSE
- A person whose name is entered onto the register upheld by the RCVS
STUDENT NURSE
- Enrolled for purpose of undergoing training as a veterinary nurse at an approved training centre
What are the limitations of Schedule 3?
- RVNs must consider own personal scope of competence before undertaking any task
- VS must consider this before delegating
- Schedule 3 is under review to make amendment clearer and more defined
What is civil law?
- Concerned with harm or loss suffered by an individual, because of crime or failure to fulfil obligations towards another person
- Breach of duty of care
What are the most common civil actions in the veterinary practice?
- Breach of contract
- Trespass (Interfere with someones property)
- Negligence
What is the legal redress in civil cases?
- Financial - Compensation, damages
- Prohibitive - injunction to prevent continuing work
- Civil case decisions work on the balance of probability
What courts do which crimes go through?
CRIMINAL
- Magistrates court
- Crown court
- Court of appeal
- Supreme court
CIVIL
- County court
- High court of justice
- Court of appeal
- Supreme court
What is statutory regulation?
As required by law
- RCVS as set out in VSA 1966
- VS
What is voluntary regulation?
Code of practice is chosen
Not essential in law
- RVNs
What is regulation?
- Professionalism and responsibility
- Guidelines or rules of conduct
- Protection for those using professional services
What is the royal charter?
- 2015
- Resulted in VN profession in UK becoming regulated
- Able to be disciplined by RCVS if break code of conduct
When did schedule 3 happen?
2001
What is self regulation?
- RCVS
- Policed by members
- Can be less transparent
What is government/state regulation?
- Regulated by government
- Members are not practising in same industry
- EG Ofcom for TV
- More transparent as no bias
What is meant by transparency in relation to regulation?
Public can access information
What is a council within a regulatory body?
- Governed by law
- Can be responsible for more than one industry
What is the VN council?
- NOT A COUNCIL as no regulatory powers to change rules
- ACTUALLY A COMMITTEE
- 6 elected RVNs
- 2 VSs
- 4 Lay members
- 2 Appointed (by council) RVNs
- Take suggestions to RCVS for changes
Why are lay members included in the VN council?
- Balanced view
- 4/14
- Better regulations task force 1997
What members make up the RCVS council?
24 members
- 13 VSs
- 2 RVNs
- 6 Lay members
- 3 representative from vet schools
- Chief vet officer
What statutory committees must every regulatory body have?
- Preliminary investigation committee
- Disciplinary committee
- Registrations appeals committee
What are examples of some non-statutory committees regulatory bodies may have?
- Advisory
- Education
- Examination
- External affairs
- Finance and general purpose
- Nominations
- Specialisation and further education
- VN council
What is the role of regulatory bodies?
- Control/maintain register
- Set standard of education, practice, conduct
- Maintains standards - disciplinary, CPD
- Advise
What are the stages of RCVS diciplinary framework?
STAGE 1 ASSESSMENT + INVESTIGATION
- Close case
- Close case with advice
- Referral to stage 2
STAGE 2 RVN PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE
- Close case
- Close case with advice
-
STAGE 3 DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
-
What are the possible sanctions of stage 3 disciplinary committee?
- Reprimand or warning
- Suspension up to 2 years
- Removal from register - May reapply after 10 months for possible reinstatement
What are the stages of Benner’s clinical competence?
NOVICE
- No experience, follows universal rules to complete tasks
ADVANCED BEGINNER
- Marginally acceptable performance, notice recurring situational components of tasks
COMPETENT
- 2-3 years experience, sees actions as part of long term plans, lacks speed and flexibility
PROFICIENT
- Perceives situations as a whole, knows what to expect
EXPERT
- No longer relies on rules, huge amount of experience, deep understanding of whole situation