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LEARNING IN PRACTICE
Members of the veterinary profession have a responsibility to uphold standards to ensure the public has access to safe, quality
veterinary care. When those standards are compromised, the College responds. Every veterinarian can learn from these
situations and publishing the details of complaints received and resolved is intended to support that learning. The example
below is taken from an actual complaints case and is offered as a self-reflection tool to improve practice across the province.
STANDARD ON PRESCRIBING OUTLINES LABEL NECESSITIES
CASE SUMMARY
The allegations suggested the member
provided Acepromazine Maleate to clients
knowing the drug was being administered
to pigs that were raised and sold to local
butcher shops. Thereby, the meat being sold
to the general public could be contaminated.
It is further alleged the drug was not
prescribed for a specific animal and the client
used the drug at their discretion. As well,
there was no dosage for the drug on the label
and the member did not have paperwork
for dispensing the drug. The complaint was
submitted by a third party who claimed
to have received Acepromazine from the
member’s client.
CASE OUTCOMES
The panel decided the nature of the
allegations involving the member did not
warrant a discipline hearing.
The panel advised the member of concerns
with regard to the maintenance of medical
records. The panel advised the member
to ensure records are comprehensive and
include details about treatment provided and
medication prescribed and dispensed.
Advice is meant to be educative and serves
as a remedial tool to assist licensed members
in correcting areas of practice identified as
problematic. Such advice provides education
about standards and expectations and/
or changes necessary in the veterinarian’s
practice so similar concerns do not arise in
the future.
CASE CONSIDERATIONS
In consideration of this complaint, a panel
reviewed the material provided. As is
standard practice for investigations, the panel
considered previous proceedings against the
member.
The member indicated he provides veterinary
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care to the client’s horses and donkeys. The
member’s associate vaccinated the horses
and sedated two donkeys for the blacksmith.
The member later delivered two bottles of
Acepromazine for the donkeys to assist with
ongoing hoof care, but said he didn’t know
the client was using the drug for pigs.
The member acknowledged the mistake in
not writing the donkeys’ names on the drugs.
The dosage was written on the drug label and
it was specified the drug was for the purpose
of shoeing.
The panel noted Acepromazine is a
prescription tranquilizer used in many aspects
of veterinary medicine, including companion
animals, equine and food producing
situations. Its use includes sedation, treatment
of toxicities and general anesthesia.
Acepromazine is licensed for use in swine
as an injectable medication and has a seven
day withholding period before slaughter. The
panel was not able to conclude that meat
contaminated with Acepromazine was being
sold to the public.
The panel acknowledged the challenges of
practising in rural Ontario where access to
veterinary care is limited. It is acceptable
veterinary practice to prescribe a quantity of
sedative medication such as Acepromazine to
be used at the discretion of the animal owner.
This is a common practice in both companion
animal medicine and equine medicine.
With respect to the concern the medication
was not prescribed for a specific animal,
the panel determined that while the actual
medication bottle was not labelled for the
donkeys, this information was recorded in the
medical records. As well, the bottle included
dosage instructions for equine shoeing.
From the information provided to the panel,
the Acepromazine was appropriately
prescribed for the donkeys.
The panel had concerns about how the
medication was dispensed. The panel noted
that according to Ontario Regulation 1093
Part 111 Drugs and in particular section 27,
subsection (3), the drug label must include
specific information such as the date the drug
is dispensed and the identity of the animal or
group of animals for which it is dispensed.
All members must comply with this
Regulation. The panel directs the member to
review the standard on Prescribing a Drug,
published in August 2018.
When reviewing a complaint matter, the
panel relies on information contained in the
medical record to substantiate the veterinary
care provided. The medical records in this
case did not meet the requirements of the
College’s standard on Medical Records.
Members are expected to maintain clinical
records in a manner that adheres to the
standard and is reflective of providing care
in the best interest of patients. The panel
encouraged the member to participate in the
College’s online module related to preparation
of medical records for assistance regarding
this important aspect of professional practice.
The panel’s advice is educative and will
remain on the member’s record with the
College should another complaint arise in the
future.
For further learning
opportunities on the concerns
raised in this case:
Veterinary Obligations Related to Drugs:
Professional Practice Standard Prescribing
a Drug
Medical Records
Professional Practice Standard Medical
Records
Webinar Series - Foundations for Medical
Record Keeping (companion animals)
Medical Records Self-Assessment Tool