In recent years, the profession has also observed the strengthening of
qualifications for veterinary technicians, and in particular the recognition
of the Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) as having credentials that
represent quality and safety in veterinary practice. The growth in numbers
of RVT’s 10 in the province is a testament to their established place as
a qualified team member within the system of veterinary medicine in
Ontario.
As animals remain defined as property, owners/clients can and will
continue to independently choose a health care provider for animals, as
they might do in human health care. The College’s focus should be on risks
to animals in relation to the intersection between veterinary medicine and
what is in the public domain (caveat emptor or buyer beware). However,
higher risk choices related to animal health should always be managed by
a veterinarian.
Modernizing
the Practice
of Veterinary
Medicine
SCOPE OF
PRACTICE
The world is not the same as when the Veterinarians Act was introduced
in 1989. A model focused on the system of veterinary medicine and on
protecting activities that pose the greatest risk of harm to animals is being
proposed. The aim is to acknowledge changing public expectation and
to balance this with the need for the protection of animals. Strengthening
compliance with the scope of practice of veterinary medicine by being
clearer about where harm lies, and that both veterinarians and veterinary
technicians are accountable in that delivery, is imperative for the future.
Achieving a Modern Approach to the Regulation of Veterinary Medicine in Ontario 23