Veterinary Practice Regulations 2022

For the purposes of section 78(b) of the Act, the following are unprofessional conduct —

conduct in connection with the practice of veterinary medicine that does, or is likely to do, any of the following —

cause unnecessary harm to an animal;

adversely affect the health or safety of any person;

damage the international reputation of Australia in relation to animal exports, animal products, animal welfare or sporting events;

improper or unethical conduct in connection with the practice of veterinary medicine;

a failure by a veterinarian to adequately supervise a person carrying out an act of veterinary medicine if —

the person is required under the Act to be supervised by a veterinarian when carrying out the act; and

the veterinarian consents to supervising the person in relation to the act;

publishing an advertisement in connection with the practice of veterinary medicine that —

is offensive; or

is likely to be prejudicial to, or diminish confidence in, the practice of veterinary medicine;

conduct set out in subregulation (2);

conduct set out in subregulation (3).

For the purposes of subregulation (1)(e), a practitioner engages in unprofessional conduct if the practitioner —

fails to prevent the publication of an advertisement in connection with a veterinary practice business that —

is offensive; or

is likely to be prejudicial to, or diminish confidence in, the practice of veterinary medicine;

is either —

if the veterinary practice business has a practice owner who is a practitioner — the practice owner; or

otherwise — the veterinary supervisor for the veterinary premises at or from which the veterinary practice business is carried on.

For the purposes of subregulation (1)(f), a practitioner engages in unprofessional conduct if —

the practitioner accepts responsibility for the custody, care and control of an animal admitted to veterinary premises for the purpose of an act of veterinary medicine; and

the practitioner does not ensure that a person in charge of the animal immediately before it is admitted is aware of, and consents to, the possibility that it may be left unattended or unmonitored for a period as a result of which it may suffer unnecessary harm; and

while the animal is at the veterinary premises it is left unattended or unmonitored and suffers unnecessary harm as a result.