Who this proposal benefits:

The animals. The more often students repeat procedures in a supervised, controlled environment and receive immediate feedback from licensed veterinarians leading, assisting, or observing the student, the higher the quality of patient care future veterinarians will provide their patients when they begin practicing independently. Opposing comments have listed vet students as the sole beneficiaries of this proposal. In fact, it is their future animal patients who benefit from supervised repetition. Vet students and veterinarians have made increasing animal comfort and happiness their life’s goal; this proposal serves them indirectly by making it easier for them to achieve that goal. VMRCVM has an excellent program that is currently graduating competent veterinarians but even more hands-on experience will only improve the quality of care they provide to animals.

Why animals will not suffer under the care of supervised students:

Animal comfort is a veterinarian’s main ambition and client satisfaction is his or her livelihood. Student learning is a distant 3^rd on the list of objectives. Veterinarians are not willing to risk license and reputation for the sake of allowing a student to perform a procedure beyond his or her ability. If a student cannot participate without compromising the quality of patient care, neither veterinarian nor student would think participation appropriate. Veterinarians would be ready to take over for a student at a moment’s notice, if needed, in order to preserve the quality of patient care.

What opposed animal lovers can do if this proposal passes:

Talk to your veterinarian. Ask them who will be performing procedures on your pet. It is reasonable to request that students not perform procedures. Owner happiness is vital to the livelihood of a veterinarian; this proposal would not leave you without a voice. 

A veterinarian’s first responsibility is to the patient. If the patients’ needs can be addressed while concurrently improving a future veterinarian’s skills, and therefore patient care, the state of Virginia should absolutely seize the opportunity make it possible.