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PROFESSIONALISM
PRACTISING A PROFESSION : RIGHT , PRIVILEGE , RESPONSIBILITY ? continued from front page
This also means that regulated professionals cannot always behave in the same manner as other members of society . For example , in the human health context , the courts have repeatedly held that sexual relations with a client are prohibited , even if the relationship appears to be consensual . The reason is because of the fundamental power imbalance between regulated professionals and their clients . In this context , the Court of Appeal has noted there is no constitutionally protected right to practise a profession .
In addition , regulated professionals may sometimes face additional consequences for activities because of their status . For example , a regulated professional who engages in criminal activity may be sanctioned by the state as well as by the regulator . This was explained by the Divisional Court in a case involving a pharmacist as follows :
“ The appellant , a member of society , committed a criminal act of dishonesty , namely , a $ 21,000 plus fraud . In the criminal proceedings , he was given a jail sentence which he has served . Although the appellant has paid his debt to society in general , the College of Pharmacists , a self governing body , is entitled to impose another penalty because the appellant has violated the trust placed in him as a pharmacist , trust placed by both the public and by the College of which he is a member . He violated the Criminal Code ; he has also violated the code of conduct demanded by the provisions of the Pharmacy Act . Before the College , the appellant cannot say : ‘ I ’ ve already been punished , to punish me again would be unfair and harsh .’
With additional privileges come additional responsibilities .” 4
Conclusion
Licensed veterinarians fulfill an extremely important function in society . Veterinarians are held in high regard for their specialized knowledge and skill relating to the treatment of animals . As regulated professionals , veterinarians should also be aware of the additional responsibilities that come with the practise of the profession .
1 . Patel v . Ontario College of Pharmacists , [ 2000 ] O . J . No . 256 ( QL )
2 . Chauhan v . Health Professions Appeal and Review Board and The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario , 2013 ONSC 1621 ( CanLII )
3 . Green v . Law Society of Manitoba , [ 2017 ] 1 SCR 360 , 2017 SCC 20 ( CanLII )
4 . Patel v . Ontario College of Pharmacists , [ 2000 ] O . J . No . 256 ( QL )
CHANGES TO THE HPPA REQUIREMENTS NOW IN EFFECT
The Health Protection and Promotion Act ( HPPA ) specifies the organization and delivery of public health programs and services that are administered by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care , including disease prevention and control .
The HPPA requires Ontario ’ s 36 boards of health ( also called public health units ) to oversee , provide or ensure the provision of public health programs and services . Certain provisions in the Act and its regulations are relevant to veterinary practice where veterinary practice intersects with public health concerns .
Amendments to Regulation 567 , made under the HPPA , came into effect on July 1 , 2018 . Below is what a veterinarian needs to know about how these amendments will impact his or her practice . Amendments include :
• More robust requirements for both certificates of immunization and statements of exemption have been introduced through the requirement for additional information that must be included on those certificates . A copy of each certificate of immunization and each statement of exemption issued must be retained by a veterinarian for a period of three years from the date of its issue
• Animals that must be vaccinated now include a ferret that is three months of age or older and a horse , cow , bull , steer , calf , sheep or other livestock for which a rabies vaccine licensed for use in Canada is available , unless the livestock is accessible only to the person or persons who are responsible for the care and control of the animal
The College ’ s Legislative Overview : Rabies has been updated to reflect these new provisions .
Canadian importers of rabies vaccines will be phasing out the importation of the “ 1-year ” labelled inactivated rabies vaccines ( i . e . rabies vaccines with a one-year duration of immunity claim and an annual revaccination label recommendation for dogs and cats ). These vaccines will no longer be offered for sale in Canada after March 31 , 2019 .
The three-year rabies vaccines in Canada may continue to be marketed with one-year revaccination recommendations for non-dogand-cat species , as duration of immunity beyond one year for these minor species has not been established .
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