Changing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine

The practice of veterinary medicine is ripe for a major revolution. I believe the catalyst for that change will be a joint effort by pet owners and like-minded animal care professionals. For both consumers and professionals, the first step is a major shift in perception.

Just because someone is a veterinarian, does not mean they have the pet's best interest at heart. That can be tough to swallow - we want to believe in the people we depend on for our pet's life. But this is a case where being informed is your best strategy and a little skepticism can go a long way in protecting your pets.

Consumers must also realize that there is an "old boy's network" in veterinary medicine intent on maintaining the status quo. People in power positions within the veterinary industry not only are not putting pet safety first - they don't have to! The missing piece is accountability.

Changing the laws so that veterinarians are accountable is the single-most important event that can drive the needed change. Recent surveys confirm that as a nation, our confidence in professionals and institutions is dropping rapidly. Because of the current laws, veterinarians are shielded from accountability by the one thing that is certain to keep fraud in check - criminal and civil litigation. In actuality, I believe the percentage of malpractice and fraud is much higher in veterinary medicine. As the saying goes, sunlight is the best disinfectant. Once we reveal the sad reality of veterinary fraud and malpractice, the industry will be cleansed of many people who up until now have been hiding in the shadows of the animals.