Comment on the updated DRAFT Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics
60-day comment period open for AVMA members
Proposed updates to the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics (PVME) are available for review, and the AVMA is seeking comments from members on this DRAFT. The Principles describe a set of behaviors that serve as a Code of Conduct for veterinarians.
The PVME is intended to guide veterinarians in the ethical delivery of quality veterinary services in a variety of situations and circumstances. Some of the changes in the updated DRAFT PVME include:
- Addition of a Code of Conduct, based heavily on the existing PVME’s Principles and Supporting Annotations, with some clarifying edits
- Integrating the rationale currently included in the PVME’s Supporting Annotations into the Code of Conduct
- Recasting the Useful Terms section as Definitions
How to submit comments
Considering the experiences, perspectives, and insights of AVMA members is important when the Association’s policies are reviewed. Please read through the DRAFT PVME, then complete a short form to communicate any specific changes you suggest and what your rationale is for those changes. The comment period closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on March 4, 2024.
Comments
Comment on updates to the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethic
It is unethical for veterinarians to perform invasive and unnecessary cosmetic procedures in animals. E statement on ethical care should advocate for the ban of ear cropping, tail docking, etc as more progressive countries have done. It will come to that eventually, so AVMA should lead on this important welfare issue.
AVMA member for 33 years.
A Joint Statement from ACLAM and ASLAP
March 4, 2024
To whom it may concern,
ASLAP and ACLAM endorse the draft version of the PVME as written. Anchoring the Code of Conduct to the three fundamental principles of Stewardship, Integrity, and Respect align with ASLAP and ACLAM’s values and missions. The added introductory highlight on ethical decisions involving “balancing competing interests in a specific situation” is of utmost importance and the framework from which the principle of Stewardship is derived. The PVME reflects a diversity of VCPR contexts and veterinary experiences and does not conflict with ethical considerations relevant to the laboratory animal medical field.
The American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP) officially represents laboratory animal veterinarians within the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The ASLAP mission is to advance laboratory animal practitioners through career development, recruitment, and representation in the greater professional community.
The American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) is a specialty board recognized by the AVMA as the certifying organization for laboratory animal medicine, a recognized specialty within the veterinary medical profession.
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