client led referrals for "alternative" things

Re: client led referrals for "alternative" things

Niall Taylor — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:47:51 GMT

[quote user="Mialee Blair"]Spent a long time explaining my position and the legal ramifications and I think I have placated her and she is coming back to see me.[/quote]

Brilliant - exactly the right thing to do!

Niall

Re: client led referrals for "alternative" things

Mialee Blair — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:43:19 GMT

Well, I phoned the galen myotherapist, who isnt a vet, and explained my concerns. Then had a phone call from an irate client who cant understand why I wouldnt just sign it. Spent a long time explaining my position and the legal ramifications and I think I have placated her and she is coming back to see me.

My point kind of was how do these people operate within the law as it stands, some vets must be happily siging these forms or they wouldnt have any clients, there was even a glowing testimonial on her advertising material from another local veterinary practice. Yet legally as this is a complementary therapy by someone with no veterinary qualifications, they shouldnt be treating an animal whether I sign a peice of paper or not.

Dodgy area really!

Re: client led referrals for "alternative" things

Niall Taylor — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:00:33 GMT

This seems a quite straightforward issue to me. Either this is a client initiated "referral" in which case, fine, it's their dog and they can take it where they want (within law), or it's a veterinary referral in which case they come to you, have a discussion and together you and the owner decide what is the best course of action and if the animal needs to be referred and where.

If you haven't seen the dog for this issue and haven't been involved with the treatment plan then you shouldn't be signing anything, it is the owner's responsibility. And that should apply regardless of whether the treatment is complimentary or anything else.

Anything for a simple life I say!

Niall

Re: client led referrals for "alternative" things

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:34:49 GMT

Is this a veterinary surgeon wanting to do "Galen myotherapy" (whatever that is)? If so, it's a straightforward second opinion or supercession. Don't "authorise" anything.Just send bald clinical details; or if feeling miffed, don't do anything until the vet has the courtesy to contact you directly.

If it's not a veterinary surgeon, you could:

1. Ignore it until someone has the courtesy to contact you directly. Then proceed as in 2 below.

2. Remind them that they are not permitted to diagnose, or to treat animals except perhaps under your direction and supervision. Qualified physiotherapists may treat the animal by physiotherapy at your request once you have made the diagnosis.

3. Find out what it's all about, talk to both client and "therapist", then if you feel it can do no harm, if you really wish then verbally permit the "therapy" to proceed but insist that you are kept informed. Do not "authorise" anything in writing, not without many caveats anyway.

It may help to quote the Guide to Professional Conduct that you are not permitted to co-operate with an illegal practitioner.

Re: client led referrals for "alternative" things

Laurence Webb — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:02:58 GMT

One of the worries I have about this kind of authorisation is that you're effectively saying to the client that you recommend the treatment. If there are any problems with the treatment (eg disc prolapse etc) then the alternative practitioner will be able to wave their referral form in their defense.

As your name is signed on the bottom of the form following a statement something along the lines of 'I believe that this animal is a suitable candidate for this treatment' then you'll be the one in the firing line. I've refused to sign referral forms for some alternative treatments (eg Bowen technique) on the grounds that I've i) not examined the animal recently enough to have an opinion and ii) have no real idea what's involved in the treatments.

I suspect the VDS would be wary of you recommending treatments for animals that are not under your care as you're just accepting the responsibility for any complications that arise. Imagine a worst case scenario when an angry owner turns up with their paralysed dog complaining that they would never have put the dog through a risky alternative treatment if you had not signed the form saying that their dog was a suitable candidate.

Re: client led referrals for "alternative" things

vs0u — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:40:15 GMT

I think you would need to see the dog first and also get in touch with the alternative practitioner to find out what they are going to do, especially if they are not a vet.

After all if the client was wanting referral to an unknown neurologist for an MRI you would not do it without seeing the dog and checking who the neurologist was.

How can you be in a position to 'authorise treatment' for someone else's animal anyway?