Pro Bono: Legal Issues in Treating Injured Pets

In addition to our human loved ones, our pets are also treasured family members. EMS providers may be the only ones equipped for the moment when a four-legged life is on the line. Do we increase our legal risk if we take that extra step to render aid to a pet on scene? As with anything we do on the job, there of course can be legal consequences. But the benefits of helping a family save their pet far outweigh the minimal legal risk of taking action and using our human care skills to help save the life of an animal in crisis. Legal Review The law is starting to take more formal steps to recognize and protect public safety providers who render emergency treatment to animals. A recent revision to Ohio law now expressly allows first responders to administer lifesaving aid to pets, companion animals and police dogs in a crisis. The new law, which became effective on Aug. 31, specifically exempts first responders from what could have been a potential violation of the Ohio Veterinary Medicine Practice Act (VMPA) for the unlawful practice of veterinary medicine. (Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 4741, Section 4741.20(j)). Like the practice of human medicine, the veterinary medicine profession is highly regulated with similarly worded provisions related to licensure and qualifications of medical care providers. Veterinary medicine is also governed by state law, and all states prohibit "unlicensed practice." Under virtually all VMPAs we reviewed, we found that most states have adop...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Columns Administration and Leadership Source Type: news