Ethics, Law, and Career Notes

Ethics

• Ethics = standards of behavior that guide actions across social, personal, and professional contexts (Right vs Wrong).
• Theories in veterinary ethics include:
  • Descriptive ethics: descriptive, view-based accounts of how veterinary team members actually behave and judge actions.
  • Normative ethics: search for the correct principles of right and wrong to guide actions.
• Sources and enforcement:
  • Descriptive and normative perspectives inform how ethical principles are applied in practice.
  • Official standards are created and adopted by organizations (e.g., AVMA).
  • Administrative/government bodies regulate activities of the veterinary team.
  • Violations can lead to sanctions such as revocation of license or certification by bodies like the AVMA.
• Practical use:
  • AVMA’s ethical principles/standards provide the framework for professional conduct.
  • Ethics guide decisions affecting animal welfare, public health, and professional integrity.

The Vet Tech Oath (cited text)

• I solemnly dedicate myself to aiding animals and society by providing excellent care and services for animals, by alleviating animal suffering, and by promoting public health.
• I accept my obligations to practice my profession conscientiously and with sensitivity, adhering to the profession’s Code of Ethics, and furthering my knowledge and competence through a commitment of lifelong learning.

Code of Ethics for Veterinary Technicians

• 1. Aid society and animals through providing excellent care and services for animals.
• 2. Prevent and relieve the suffering of animals.
• 3. Promote public health by assisting with the control of zoonotic diseases and informing the public about these diseases.
• 4. Assume accountability for individual professional actions and judgments.
• 5. Protect confidential information provided by clients.
• 6. Safeguard the public and the profession against individuals deficient in professional competence or ethics.
• 7. Assist with efforts to ensure conditions of employment consistent with the excellent care for animals.
• 8. Remain competent in veterinary technology through commitment to lifelong learning.
• 9. Collaborate with members of the veterinary medical profession in efforts to ensure quality health care services for all animals.
• Note: Some logos/text appear in slides (e.g., “MISTLE HOPE HAVERFORD speak flueet InC VRC”) as placeholders or institutional markings; these are not part of the core code but are acknowledged as present in the material.

What is a Law?

• Law = established set of rules and standards.
• Civil law: relates to duties between people and the government (e.g., disputes between employees and employers over contracts).
• Criminal law: crimes committed against the public as a whole; focuses on acts that injure people and animals.
• $Civil ext{ }Law$ and $Criminal ext{ }Law$ define different kinds of legal disputes and consequences.

Veterinary Practice and the Law

• It is the responsibility of veterinary team members to recognize animal abuse and to report it (per AVMA guidelines).
• Animal abuse can be linked to domestic violence; recognizing and reporting is part of protecting animals and public welfare.

Malpractice and Liability

• Malpractice refers to lawsuits typically related to neglect or contracts issues; focuses on professional performance and duty.
• Liability insurance: each veterinarian must carry their own insurance; or depending on state practice acts, a Vet Tech may have coverage under the practice policy.
• Negligence: performing an act or failing to perform an act that should have been done; e.g., missing ACE duty obligations.
• Key idea: distinguishing acts of negligence from mere errors or disputes in contracts.

Practice Act

• Purpose: state-specific law that regulates duties, guiding principles, and qualifications of veterinary technicians.
• Goals: promote public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring competent veterinary care and by protecting the public from incompetent, unethical, or unauthorized practice.
• Prohibits unlicensed individuals from performing activities that require licensure.
• Title protection for CVT/RVT/LVT; enforcement by state Boards of Veterinary Medicine.
• Notes on titles:
  • The state may protect specific credential titles (CVT, RVT, LVT).
  • It may not always prohibit use of the general title “Veterinary Technician.”
• Examples by state:
  • Wisconsin (WI): Protects the title CVT, LVT, RVT; does not restrict use of the general title “Veterinary Technician.”
  • Minnesota (MN): Vet Tech Licensure bill passed in $2024$; will take effect in $2026$.

Other Laws Vet Techs Deal With

• Labor laws (Dept of Labor).
• Safety in the workplace (OSHA).
• Medical waste management laws (EPA).
• Animal Welfare Act (AWA) – administered by USDA and IACUC oversight.
• Horse Protection Act (HPA).
• Endangered Species Act.
• Drug enforcement by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration).

Regulatory Organizations

• Regulations vary by type of veterinary facility; multiple regulatory bodies may apply depending on setting and jurisdiction.

Regulatory Organizations and Associations

• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
  • Founded in $1866$.
  • Open to membership; www.aspca.org.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
  • Founded in 1954; lobbies for humane treatment and restraint of animals.
  • Open to donations; monthly donors welcome.
  • Websites: www.humanesociety.org; linked content commonly referenced.
• American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)
  • Founded in $1950$; focuses on production, care, and study of lab animals.
  • Certification programs: ALAT, LAT, LATG via the Animal Technician Certification Board.
• Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources (ILAR)
  • Founded in $1952$; focuses on care and standards of lab animal use.
• Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC)
  • Accredits labs and establishes standards; fosters humane care of lab animals.
• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
  • Can exist at any facility housing animals; ensures proper personnel training for research with animals.
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • Inspects animal dealers, educational and research facilities.
• Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
  • Enacted in $1966$; regulates interstate transport of animals and care in zoos, circuses, exhibitions.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  • Federal safety standards to protect workers in the workplace.

Fields of Employment for a Veterinary Technician (VT)

• Veterinary Practices
  • Small animal practices: dogs, cats, birds, pocket pets, reptiles, etc.
  • Large animal practices: production animals (cattle, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, etc.).
  • Mixed practices: provide care for both large and small animals.
  • Equine practices: focus on horses.
• Specialty and Referral Practices
  • Feline specialty-only hospitals (exclusively for cats).
  • Referral practices (emergency, surgery, oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology, internal medicine, neurology, integrative medicine, theriogenology, behavior, rehabilitation).
• Other Specialty Practices
  • Animal shelters/humane societies.
  • Zoos and wildlife facilities (wildlife rehabilitation).
  • Government roles (DNR, USFWS).
  • Independent on-call technicians.
• Animal nutrition and research-related roles
  • Hill’s Animal Research and other biomedical research facilities (drugs, vaccines, cardiac devices, etc.).
• Education and Diagnostics
  • Educational roles (instructors in VT programs or veterinary schools).
  • Commercial diagnostic labs (necropsy; PCR; microbiology; virology; parasitology; etc.).
  • Diagnostic services (travel diagnostics like ultrasonography, endoscopy; diagnostics often performed by the DVM).
• Roles in research and industry
  • Animal nutrition research, biomedical device development, etc.
• Peace Corps and Military
  • Peace Corps: help developing countries with animal management and preventative health care.
  • Military veterinary clinics and related employment opportunities.
• Small Business Management
  • Pet stores, pet sitting, boarding facilities, doggy daycare, etc.
• Note: Some slide content includes shorthand or non-standard labels (e.g., FACP); these may refer to certifications or affiliations not universally standard across regions.

Other Career Identities and Ethos

• Reflection on the phrase: "I am a Vet Tech. I am…"
  • A composite of roles: nurse, anesthesiologist, x-ray technician, veterinary assistant, caretaker, mediator, mentor, advocate, educator, and friend.
  • Emphasizes broad scope of practice, emotional resilience, and dedication to alleviating pain and saving lives.
• Personal qualities highlighted: strong stomach, big heart, thoughtful mind, education, lifelong commitment to doing what is right, love for animals.

Next Class and Exam Focus

• Topics to review for the exam include:
  • OSHA and veterinary hazards
  • Veterinary team abbreviations and roles
  • Prescriptions and medication handling
  • Veterinary organizations and fields of employment
  • Vet laws and regulatory frameworks
• Resources to help preparation include:
  • Study groups, worksheets, reading assignments, PPTs, flashcards, and other student-created tools.

Miscellaneous/Notes from the slides

• The slides include various placeholders and logos (e.g., MISTLE, HOPE, HAVERFORD, InC, VRC) that may be institutional markers or non-content graphics. They are noted here as observed but not essential to the technical content.
• There are some nonstandard line breaks and typographical errors in the original transcript (e.g., “REFERRAL PRACTICES,” “DAM.C 96 65”), which appear to be formatting artifacts rather than substantive concepts. These are acknowledged for completeness.
• Some slide content lists multiple items in shorthand forms (e.g., “GROOMING & BOARDING,” "Two Deadly Frier"), which may reflect slide titles or quick notes rather than formal terms; they are included here for completeness but should be cross-checked with official course materials for precise terminology.

Quick reference to key dates and titles (for memorization)

• ASPCA founded: $1866$
• HSUS foundation year: $1954$
• AWA enacted: $1966$
• AALAS founding year: $1950$
• ILAR founding year: $1952$
• MN licensure bill: passed in $2024$; effective in $2026$

Important terms (glossary-style quick reference)

• AVMA: American Veterinary Medical Association; sets ethical principles and standards.
• IACUC: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee; oversees animal research training and welfare.
• CVT/RVT/LVT: titles protected under various state Practice Acts (credential designations for veterinary technicians).
• ALAT/LAT/LATG: levels in AALAS certification pathway for laboratory animal technicians.
• AWA: Animal Welfare Act; federal law governing care and transport of animals in commerce and research.
• OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration; governs workplace safety.
• IACUC: committee that ensures humane and compliant use of animals in research.

End of notes