Veterinary students must not be allowed to perform procedures on animals without direct supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Owners have every reasonable expectation that the quality of care for their loved pet in a veterinary school will be of the highest quality, much as human patients have a reasonable expectation that the quality of medical care in a teaching hospital will be high. The public should be protected from the notion that pets brought for diagnosis, treatment, and care are being volunteered as subjects for unsupervised student practice
Moreover, the responsibility and liability for the quality of practice should fall directly upon the responsible licenced professional under whose licence the student is practicing.
I would ask the Board to consider these regulatory changes in light of protecting animal owners from unsupervised practice on their animals by unlicensed personnel.
Thank you.