Identification should include issues related to

• privacy of patient records
• standard of care
• liabilities
• malpractice vs. negligence
• state and local laws (e.g., animal control, vaccination requirements, veterinary practice)
• evaluation of various sources for obtaining animals (e.g., humane societies, pet shops, backyard breeders, rescue groups)
• morals vs. ethics vs. law and how each influences decision-making in veterinary practice.

Teacher Resources:

• Chapter 65 - Comprehensive Animal Care, Subtitle V. Domestic Animals, Title 3.2. Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food, Code of Virginia
• Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Department of Health Professions

Process/Skill Questions:

• What is the difference between legal and ethical?
• Which agencies enforce local, state, and federal laws in this field?
• Why are vaccination requirements, local licensing, and leash laws important enough to become parts of public policy or law?
• Why is the source for obtaining an animal an ethical issue?
• When ear cropping and tail docking are done for purely cosmetic reasons, why do they become ethical issues? Why would pet owners choose to have these surgeries performed? How can veterinary health professionals make society aware of alternatives to these surgeries?
• What professional ethical standards exist for those in the animal healthcare industry?