Professionalism

Veterinary professionals must demonstrate a professional approach that embraces integrity and honesty and facilitates an understanding of professional boundaries at all stages of their career.

Development of these attributes will allow veterinary professionals to:

• Accept the moral and ethical responsibilities involved in providing care to individual patients and clients
• Appreciate the unequal balance of knowledge in the veterinary professional/client relationship
• Understand the need to always act in the patient’s best interest, placing animal welfare above all other interests
• Be willing to face and attempt to resolve difficult situations, including those involving uncertainty, risk and error
• Communicate in ways that ensure the client is best informed and safeguard patient safety
• Be honest and trustworthy in all communication, including in financial transactions, written reports and documentation, and be responsible for maintaining confidentiality and appropriate sharing of information.

Understanding professional boundaries will enable veterinary professionals to:

• Be aware of the boundaries that exist in the veterinary professional/client relationship and appreciate the factors that maintain them, such as formality of language and dress, the nature of the clinical environment and the necessary limitations on personal involvement.

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