AVMA seeking comments on VCPR definition

The AVMA wants members, AVMA entities, and allied organizations to help a task force define the veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

A working group of volunteer leaders has submitted proposed changes to the VCPR definition in the AVMA Model Veterinary Practice Act. Some of the changes would substitute the word "patient" in place of the word "animal," reflecting recent changes elsewhere in the model practice act that allow the term "patient" to apply to groups of animals.The proposed changes to the VCPR also describe examinations needed to establish a diagnosis, and conditions for treatment of a patient by a second veterinarian.

Those interested in commenting on the proposals should, by March 1, go to www.avma.org/issues/policy/mvpa.asp and follow the link "Comment on the VCPR."

The definition was examined but not revised during a recent AVMA task force review of the MVPA. The AVMA Executive Board approved other revisions to the MVPA in November 2011, and those changes became official when the AVMA House of Delegates approved them Jan. 7.