Title: Identify legal and ethical issues in the veterinary medicine field.
Course: Veterinary Science I (18105-I) > Section: Demonstrating Professional Conduct in the Animal Care Field

Identification should include issues related to

- use of anesthesia
- use of euthanasia
- handling of veterinary drugs
- privacy of patient records
- liability of veterinarians and clinics (e.g., in cases of animals biting clients in a clinic)
- unregulated breeding
- controversial procedures, such as tail docking, ear cropping, declawing, and debarking
- evaluation of various sources for obtaining animals (e.g., humane societies, pet shops, backyard breeders, rescue groups)
- issues involved in overpopulation, including feral colony management
- vaccination requirements
- local licensing
- leash laws
- provision of proper environment, diet, exercise, and grooming
- provision of recommended health maintenance measures (e.g., required vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, dental cleaning, deworming, external parasite prevention/treatment, routine blood work for geriatric animals)
- provision of appropriate care to animals showing signs of injury or illness.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What is the difference between legal and ethical?
- Which agencies enforce local, state, and federal laws in this field?
- How can a regular citizen help law enforcement agencies?
- Why are vaccination requirements, local licensing, and leash laws important enough to become parts of public policy or law?
- Why is the source for acquiring 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?