Ethical
Considerations and Legal Concerns
Vet
Economics or Animal Companions' Well-Being?
How
many thousands and thousands of pets have died unnecessarily,
had illnesses needlessly, and had their healthy longevity reduced
because veterinarians knowingly failed to inform guardians of
the three-year rabies option - and the risks and benefits of rabies
vaccine?
"We
should not allow politics and tradition or greed to enter the
decision (on frequency of vaccination). Changing vaccination schedules
doesn't have to mean less profit, but that you have more income
from some clients and less from others. Veterinarians and the
industry need to have guts to be honest with ourselves and assess
the risk and not be trapped in tradition."
-- Dr. Dennis Macy in "Are We Vaccinating Too Much?"
AVMA Journal, 1995
Be Informed About Vaccine
"We have
to change our focus from yearly vaccination to that of a yearly
physical."
-Dr. Fred Scott, Professor of Virology and Director of the Cornell
Feline Health Center in "Are We Vaccinating Too Much?"
Journal of American Veterinary Medicine, 1995.
"Clients
Should Be Informed About Vaccine Use. There are legal and professional
reasons to adequately inform clients about the vaccines practitioners
use in their patients. Clients should be informed about the relative
benefits and risks of vaccine use. They also should understand
that vaccination does not guarantee protection and they should
be informed about the potential adverse effects of vaccines. In
general, clients should receive sufficient information to enable
a reasonable person to reach an informed decision regarding an
animal's medical care."
-"Vaccination Issues of Concern To Practitioners," Journal
of American Veterinary Association, April 1, 1999.
"The
final decision concerning individual vaccines to be administered
should be based on risk and benefit assessment by the client and
the vet."
-Small Animal Vaccination Protocol, Colorado State University,
College of Veterinary Science.
Clearly, there
are responsible voices within the veterinary profession calling
upon practitioners to kick their annual-vaccination-shot economic
habit and to properly inform guardians about the benefits and
dangers of vaccine use. A glance at the dates of the above articles
show how little vets have listened, despite the clarion character
of the calls.
What should
be done?
1. The veterinary
associations should launch a public information campaign, advising
all companion-animal owners of the three-year rabies vaccination
option. Advertisements in local newspapers across the country
as well as print and broadcasting public-service announcements
are suggested at a minimum.
2. Vets should
answer client-guardians' questions about vaccinations and the
vet's vaccination policies - questions such as those listed in
the questionnaire found elsewhere on this website.
3. The veterinary
associations must make non-notification by vets of the three-year
vaccination option subject to suspension and/or revocation of
license. Investigations should be made of known situations by
the vet societies and state vet boards in the light of day --
with no gag orders or secrecy to determine a resolution of the
situation and to impose sanctions and penalties where appropriate
as a deterrent.
4.
At vaccination time an Informed Consent Notification form would
verify that the vet has discussed the issues of vaccination with
the client-guardian. The Informed Consent form would be signed
by the vet and include the guardian's initials, affirming that
he or she has been informed of the following by the vet:
… The potential side effects and adverse reactions of the
vaccine relative to the benefits.
… What are the vaccination options (three-year versus one-year)
and the pros and cons of each.
… Which vaccines are medically necessary for the pet's health
and which are not necessary based on the latest research.
The original copy of the Informed Consent Notification form would
be kept by the owner/guardian and a copy would be kept by the
veterinarian.
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