Introduction to veterinarians and the law

In NSW, the Veterinary Practitioner’s code of professional conduct

• Is currently located in the Veterinary Practice Act 2003

• Is a voluntary code created by the Australian Veterinary Association

• Outlines the responsibilities of a veterinary practitioner in providing relief of pain to an animal in his or presence

• Is currently located in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act

A veterinary surgeon acting as an expert witness has an overriding duty to...

• The veterinary profession

• The person retaining the veterinary surgeon

• Both the Complainant and the Defendant

• The court

The lower and upper houses of parliament in NSW are also respectively known as..

• Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly

• Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council

• Legislative Assembly and House of Lords

• House of Representatives and Legislative Assembly

Which statement is false regarding the Australian legal system

• At a federal and state level the substantive law of Australia is derived from the common law system

• Australia has a statutory Bill of Rights

• When classifying law in Australia the distinction is largely based on who starts the legal action

• The fundamental law of Australia is the Constitution

In NSW, restricted acts of veterinary science

• Are defined in the Veterinary Practice Act 2003 and amplified in the Veterinary Practice Regulation 2013

• Are defined by the Veterinary Practitioners Board in the state where the veterinarian is practising

• Are included in the administrative Code of Conduct for veterinary practitioners in Schedule 2 of the Veterinary Practice Regulation 2013

• Are included in Schedule 2 of the Veterinary Practice Act 2003

Registration to be a veterinary practitioner in NSW

• as stated in Part 4 of the Veterinary Practice Act 2003, incurs an annual registration fee which must be paid on or before 30 June of each year following the year in which the veterinary practitioner was first registered

• requires an annual return to be submitted to the Board, the details of which are outlined in Part 10 of the Veterinary Practice Act 2003

• is amplified in Schedule 1 of the declaration relating to conduct, in the Veterinary Practice Regulation 2013

• is governed by federal legislation

The primary decision relating to a complaint of veterinary professional misconduct is made by

• The Administrative Decisions Tribunal

• The Veterinary Practitioners Board

• The District Court

• The Local Court

Which of the following may be covered under delegated legislation and, as such, modified as the need arises?

• Setting of fines for offences

• The details of those acts that are restricted to be performed by a registered veterinarian

• Specific principles of veterinary professional conduct

• All of the above

A complaint against a veterinarian is upheld and the veterinarian is found to have breached the Veterinary Practitioner’s Code of Professional Conduct. Which of the following may now occur?

• The veterinarian may be cautioned and fined for unsatisfactory conduct

• The veterinarian may appeal a decision of unsatisfactory conduct to the Administrative Decisions Tribunal

• Following an appeal to the Administrative Decisions Tribunal a finding of unsatisfactory conduct may be upheld but the penalty may be reduced

• All of the above

Most legislation in Australia affecting veterinarians is state based but there are exceptions. Which of the following areas are largely governed by federal legislation?

• Poisons and therapeutic goods

• Environment protection

• Prevention of cruelty to animals

• Animal research