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Subject:
From:
Blaine and Kendra Barody <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 27 Feb 2006 13:03:21 -0700
Content-Type:
text/plain
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Here is the attachment that was lost in the emailing process.
 
Kendra Barody
 
WHAT PET OWNERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE NEW PROPOSED VETERINARY PROFESSION
ACT (VPA) IN ALBERTA
 
Subsequent to the court case of the Alberta Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA) vs.Louis Pequin where the AVMA sued the equine dentist
(L. Pequin) for allegedly practicing veterinary medicine illegally and
the AVMA lost the trial and any possible appeal, the AVMA has recently
approached the Legislative Government of Alberta in order to redefine
the meaning of "veterinary medicine" (see proposed amendments at
http://aoa.successnetwork.ca/Veterinary%20Profession%20Act.pdf ).
 
The proposed changes to the VPA are very broad and are intended to
be all encompassing.  The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association Members
Magazine (March/April, 2004 edition) presents an article entitled
'Opening the Floodgates?' where the AVMA states their intentions of
restricting the delivery of health care services to animals strictly to
registered veterinarians.  A passage from this article states:
"The AVMA will continue to work with government to halt the erosion of
the profession due to legal technicalities and to restore to Albertans
the protection inherent in having registered veterinarians legislated
as the only persons qualified to deliver medical services to animals,
including dentistry and other subspecialties."
 
The proposed amendment has the potential to directly or indirectly
affecting all allied or alternative animal health care practitioners
and a long list of other animal related businesses, organizations, and
producers.  The AVMA proposes that the meaning of "veterinary medicine"
should encompass the entire "branch of knowledge that relates to
maintaining the health of animals" as well as that which "relates to
preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and injuries to animals".
This implies that a broad range of services and advice regarding animal
health provided by persons other than registered veterinarians will not
be available to the animal owning public.  If the proposed amendments
to the Veterinary Profession Act are approved, it is possible that pet
owners could loose their freedom of choosing alternative health care
services and/or advice for their animals from persons other than
registered veterinarians (such as chiropractors, physical therapists,
massage, and holistic therapists, pet supply stores, breeders, etc).  In
addition, the proposed VPA definitions of what constitutes practicing
veterinary medicine are unclear in their potential interpretations.
 
Even though the VPA in Section 2 (2) (available for view at
http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/Acts/V02.cfm?frm_isbn=0779722922&type=htm)
lists activities that can be carried out by people who are not licensed
veterinarians and/or work under the direct supervision of a veterinarian,
the list is too limited.  If you have the freedom to seek and obtain
health care choices and alternative for you and your family, why should
you lose your rights to obtain the same type of care for your animals?
If you have concerns regarding the proposed amendments to the Veterinary
Profession Act, you can write to your MLA and the Alberta Human Resources
and Employment, Professions and Occupations and Land Agent Licensing
Manager, Adrian Pritchard or the Minister of Human Resources and
Employment, Hon. Mike Cardinal and demand your right to obtain health
care choices and alternatives for your animals.  The addresses for the
Government representatives are:
 
Hon. Mike Cardinal
Minister, Alberta Human Resources and Employment
#324 Legislative Bld.
10800 - 97th Ave
Edmonton, AB,
T5K 2B6
Ph: (780) 415-4800
 
Minister Adrian Pritchard, Manager
Alberta Human Resources and Employment
Professions and Occupations and Land Agent Licensing
7th Floor, 10808 - 99 Ave
Edmonton, AB,
T5K 0G5
Ph: 310-0000 Fax: (780) 422-9556
 
This information is brought to you on behalf of: The Canadian Horse and
Animal Physical Rehabilitation Association A Division of the Canadian
Physiotherapy Association
 
RELEVANT AND INFORMATIVE LINKS:
 
A response to the proposed amendment on behalf of the Alberta Beef
Producers
http://www.albertabeef.org/pdf/veterinary%20profession%20review.pdf
 
A discussion forum on the proposed amendment
http://rodeoclassifieds.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=713
 
The ruling of the AVMA vs Louis Pequin
http://www.equinedental.com/l06-cruling.htm
 
The Court of Appeals decision
http://www.albertacourts.ab.ca/jdb/2003-/ca/civil/2004/2004abca0089.pdf
[Posted in FML issue 5167]

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