Law & Ethics

Harrisburg, Pa. - A newly formed nine-member Canine Health Board has just 45 days to establish guidelines.

Harrisburg, Pa. -- The new nine-member Canine Health Board -- made up of veterinarians from the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association and the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical School, as well as Republican and Democratic legislative leaders -- has met for the second time in less than a month to work on guidelines for the recently passed Pennsylvania dog law.

Sacramento -- Increased pet abandonment, euthanasia and public-health problems will be the likely result of the a newly proposed California tax on veterinary services, according to a statement issued today by the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA).

Passage of Prop 2 will mean big changes for California's food-animal industry.

Harrisburg, Pa. - Pennsylvania legislators passed a controversial law aimed at improving conditions for dogs in so-called puppy mills.

Desert Hills, Ariz.- Dr. Joshua Winston spent more than a year fighting to clear his name, which he says has cost him nearly $250,000 and more grief than he cares to recall.

An Ohio veterinarian and his staff fought off a man who burst into the practice claiming to have a bomb.

New York - A Congressional panel earlier this year questioned whether the nation's horse racing industry had the will and ability to regulate itself or whether government intervention would be necessary.

In New York, a dapper bachelor could enlist a dog each Saturday to help him find his date for the night.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) urges candidate leadership on several issues.

Washington -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Congressional Science Fellows have accepted positions on Capitol Hill, serving in capacities that coincide with their interests and enabling them to provide expertise to Congress, all while serving the veterinary profession.

Washington -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is accepting applications for its Congressional Science Fellows.

Washington -- The U.S. Representatives in September heard the introduction of a bill to prohibit the interstate transport of animals used in wildlife penning.

ELLIJAY, GA. - A Georgia couple filed a $75,000 civil suit against an Atlanta veterinary surgeon, and are seeking non-economic damages that could set a precedent in pet-injury cases. Pets are considered personal property in most states, including Georgia.

The debate over limited licensure has many factors.

The psychological pressure imposed on veterinarians to do something ... occasionally is overwhelming.

When I wrote the first half of this article a few months ago, I had no idea how much interest and how many inquiries I would receive on the subject of so-called "policies." Consequently, I thought I would put together the final piece sooner rather than later. I will admit that the subject is a bit complex, and may not be the most enthralling topic in the world. Nonetheless, it is an important one for veterinary practitioners who are concerned about their estates, their surviving relatives and the quality of care they hope to receive as seniors.

Raleigh, N.C. -- North Carolina has a new veterinary medical board member.

Veterinary school and law-school training actually have quite a bit in common. For example, when I finished each, I soon realized just how huge was the volume of practical things I needed to know but did not.

Editor's Note: Understanding consumer behavior can help you as a clinician and business manager. DVM Newsmagazine asked five veterinary market leaders to join this year's DVM Newsmakers' Summit at CVC East in Baltimore. Following is the last of three excerpts from the panel discussion.

Sacramento, Calif. - Municipalities won't be able to ban state-sanctioned medical practices if a proposed bill passes in California.

Impotent might be the best word to describe a law that would have required almost every cat and dog older than 4 months to be spayed or neutered before the measure was dramatically altered on the California Senate floor.

Wilmington, Del. - A veterinarian, beaten and bruised by churchgoers who subdued him after police say he fired three rounds of ammunition into a crowd of more than 80 at a church fund-raiser May 25, could face the death penalty for allegedly shooting and killing a Delaware church leader.

Mexico - Armed with a book called "The Peaceful Pill," foreign tourists are heading to Mexico to purchase pentobarbital from veterinary-supply stores and backstreet pet shops near the U.S. border.

Berkeley, Calif. - While debate continues over whether lethal injection in people is cruel and unusual punishment, some are looking to the veterinary community and its method of euthanasia - typically a large dose of pentobarbital.

The demands upon us continue to increase with each advance in technological sophistication.

Camden, N.J. - A federal judge approved a $24 million settlement hammered out a week earlier, aimed at compensating owners of thousands of pets that were sickened or killed by tainted pet foods last year.

Ithaca, N.Y. - Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine broke ground May 22 for the new New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC), an $80.5 million project expected to be completed in 2010.