Existing Provisions
The Veterinarians Act states that the practice of veterinary medicine
“includes the practice of dentistry, obstetrics including ova and embryo
transfer, and surgery, in relation to an animal other than a human being.”
The current Veterinarians Act is an exclusive scope of practice model
of regulation wherein no one other than a veterinarian may practice
veterinary medicine unless under the delegation and supervision of a
veterinarian.
What Change is Proposed?
The proposed scope of practice model offers a clearer definition of what
veterinary medicine is, and definitively lays out risks related to veterinary
activities. The proposed model protects activities that pose the greatest
risk of harm to animals. Activities that do not fall within these defined
authorized activities are in the public domain. What this means is that only
a veterinarian can perform the activities authorized by the Act unless they
are delegated by the veterinarian, or specifically listed as an authorized
subset or as an exemption. All high-risk activities related to animal medical
care are under the authority of a veterinarian, and compliance by all others
is expected.
Modernizing
the Practice
of Veterinary
Medicine
SCOPE OF
PRACTICE
•Definition
and Authorized
Activities•
Where the animal health services do not include a legislated, authorized
activity, an individual can provide those services to the public without
veterinary oversight. The proposed model is intended to assist with clarity
for the veterinary profession, other animal service providers, the public,
and the courts in determining whether an individual has violated the Act
related to unauthorized practice.
In addition, the model acknowledges veterinary medicine as a system that
includes defined areas of co-accountability between a veterinarian and a
veterinary technician. This model intends to license both veterinarians and
veterinary technicians under one piece of legislation.
Definition
The practice of veterinary medicine is the assessment of the physiological
or behavioural status of an animal or group of animals and the diagnosis,
treatment, prevention, and/or control of any condition, disease, disorder or
dysfunction.
This definition is intended to describe what the profession does in a
general way. It is not protected, in the sense that it does not prevent others
from performing the same activities.
Achieving a Modern Approach to the Regulation of Veterinary Medicine in Ontario 17