(MY) Pet peeve

[Guest guest]

Tuesday November 22, 2005 - The Star

 

Pet peeve

 

In this fast advancing global world of ours, the practice of

veterinary medicine and surgery in Malaysia seems to be at an all-time

low with the sprouting of so-called veterinary clinics owned by pet

shops, lay people or by veterinary assistants or veterinary kennel

hands who have no knowledge of the high level of professionalism

needed to run a veterinary practice.

 

These people either act as veterinarians themselves or employ

veterinarians whose annual practising licences are then hung up in the

clinic as showpieces.

 

As a small animal practitioner myself, I am aware that the Veterinary

Surgeons Act 1974 states clearly that veterinarians can only work for

veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery.

 

During the Annual General Meeting of the Malaysian Small Animal

Veterinary Association, it was brought to our notice that the

committee had forwarded many complaints to the Malaysian Veterinary

Council regarding bogus veterinarians.

 

I notice that no action has been taken because more of these dubious

practices have sprung up in Port Dickson, Nilai, Bangi, Johor Baru and

Kuala Lumpur, to name a few.

 

The saddest part is when veterinary assistants in government

veterinary clinics, while carrying out their official duties under the

supervision of the veterinarian in charge, are working like

veterinarians themselves diagnosing cases, giving injections,

prescribing medication and performing surgeries.

 

They even take pride in being called " doctors " by the non-discerning

public. Why has the Department of Veterinary Services allowed this to

go on in the public and private sectors?

 

There are enough young graduates from Universiti Putra Malaysia to

fill the vacancies. If they can gain employment in the government

sector, they can replace the veterinary assistants.

 

If we, as veterinarians, do not take pride in our profession and

uphold our dignity and integrity, who will do it for us?

 

I hope the chairman of the Malaysian Veterinary Council will look into

this matter to weed out the bad hats and not just act against the

veterinarians who work for these people. When the veterinarian is

reprimanded by the council and leaves the job, the layman will just go

to another veterinarian because there seems to be so many of them

around. - Concerned Veterinarian