Legal and ethical aspects of Anaesthesia Flashcards
1
Q
What should consider about anaesthetic?
A
- Age of animal
- Health status of animal
- Site and nature of procedure
- Proposed duration of surgery
- Temperament of the animal
1
Q
What are the aims of anaesthesia?
A
- Prevent awareness of, and response to pain
- Provide restraint and immobility of an animal and relaxation of skeletal muscles that is required for a particular procedure
- Achieve both of the above without jeopardizing the life and safety of the animal before, during and after anaesthesia.
2
Q
What are the 3 indications for anaesthesia?
A
- Humanitarian consideration (Relieve suffering and pain)
- Technical consdieration (Uncooperative patients need sedation/GA for restraint that procedures that are not painful)
- Legal consideration (Legislation in UK which governs the prevention of pain and suffering in animals during treatment)
3
Q
What are the ideal anaesthetic agent properties?
A
- Easily detoxified and eliminated
- Rapid induction and rapid recovery
- Lack of respiratory and cardiac depression
- Non-irritant to tissues
- Inexpensive, non-flammable and non-explosive
- No need for expensive administration equipment
4
Q
What is the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966?
A
- No person may practice unless he or she is registered under the RCVS
- Minor exceptions relating to schedule 3 procedures which can be trained lay personnel and VNs
5
Q
What is the protection of animals act 1964?
A
- Anaesthesia should be given if the performance of any operation with or without the use instruments and involving interference with sensitive tissues or bone structures
6
Q
What are the exceptions in the protection of animals act 1964?
A
- Castration of farm animals
- Amputation of dewclaws before a puppy’s eyes are open
- Any minor procedure performed by a VS which by reason of it’s quickness or painlessness e.g., desnooding turkeys
7
Q
What is the Misuse of drugs act 1971?
A
- Legal obligations of VS related to prescribing, dispensing and administrating drugs
- Separate registers for the supply of medication from the 4 drug categories
8
Q
What is the animal scientific procedures act 1986?
A
- Governs the use and care of animals for research and experiments purposes
9
Q
What is the duty of care involving anaesthetic?
A
- Decision of anaesthesia being performed with a degree of safety
- Decision on the most appropriate technique
- Administration of anaesthetic
10
Q
What age and what type of consent should we get from the owner?
A
- Must be 18 yo
- Implied (physical contact) or expressed (signature)
11
Q
What are near misses (critical incidences)?
A
- Any incident which could result in a complaint or claim and would have caused harm but is noticed before it’s impacts on the patient
- Dispensing the wrong strength, but owner notices before administration
12
Q
What is a harmful incident (critical incidences)?
A
- Any incident which results in harm to a patient
- Injecting a cat with Metacam for dogs or performing the wrong procedure on a patient such as spaying a male cat
13
Q
What are significant event analysis (critical incidences)?
A
- A constructive way to analyse adverse events, which supports out clinical governance by providing opportunity to reflect, learn and change from their outcomes
14
Q
What is VetSafe (Critical incidences)?
A
- Veterinary Defence Society’s confidential significant event reporting service
- Facilitates quality improvement and risk management in veterinary practice from incidents which have resulted in patient harm or loss and near misses
