Consultation Document July 2017 | Page 50

The Veterinarians Act currently protects the titles of“ veterinarian”,“ vétérinaire”,“ veterinary surgeon”, and“ chirurgien vétérinaire” or an abbreviation or variation thereof as an occupational or business designation for licensed members. Further, a person who is not a licensed member is prohibited from using a term, title or description that will lead to the belief that the person may engage in the practice of veterinary medicine.

It is proposed that title protection be expanded to include the titles of“ veterinary technician” and“ Registered Veterinary Technician”( RVT).

Further, with a move to some animal care services in the public domain and away from an exclusive scope model, the title“ doctor”( Dr.) will be protected so that only veterinarians licensed in Ontario can use the term in the course of providing or offering to provide, in Ontario, health care to animals.

An exemption would be provided to permit chiropractors to use the title“ doctor” with specific conditions when providing health care to animals. Such conditions would include that a chiropractor must mention that he or she is a member of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario, or identify himself or herself as a chiropractor when describing himself or herself orally using the title“ doctor”( Dr.). When identifying himself or herself in writing using the title“ doctor”( Dr.) on a name tag, business card or any document, the member must set out his or her full name after the title, immediately followed by at least one of the following( a) College of Chiropractors of Ontario or( b) Doctor of Chiropractic( DC).

Mandatory Quality Assurance

The Veterinarians Act does not currently have any provisions related to quality assurance

It is proposed that the Veterinarians Act be amended to provide for a mandatory quality assurance program for veterinarians. Key elements of the proposed concept include:

• Provisions stipulating co-operation with the Quality Assurance Committee and any advisors it appoints, which would include providing any information requested by the Committee or an advisor.

• Provisions related to the powers of the Quality Assurance Committee, which include the power to:

• require a member to participate in a program designed to assess his or her knowledge, skill and judgment

• require a member whose knowledge, skill or judgment have been assessed or re-assessed, and found to be unsatisfactory, to participate in remediation activities as defined by the Quality Assurance Committee

• direct the Registrar to impose or remove terms, conditions or limitations for a specified period on a member’ s license in certain defined circumstances

• Provisions relating to the confidentiality and use of information obtained by the Quality Assurance Committee or its advisors

50 Achieving a Modern Approach to the Regulation of Veterinary Medicine in Ontario