Dear Editors,
Re: Letter to the Editor, Can Vet J 2021;62:1273.
The Canadian Council of Veterinary Registrars, a network of regulators representing each provincial jurisdiction in Canada, read this letter with interest and with an appreciation for challenges that veterinarians may face in career transition. As regulatory organizations, we hold in high regard veterinarians who have long served the public in many valuable roles. Many provinces recognize our retired veterinarians by offering non-clinical categories such as retiree, emeritus, etc. We acknowledge and support the interest of many to find new ways to continue to offer their exceptional skills to animals and to society.
Veterinary medicine is a regulated profession; it has the privilege to offer its services to the public in keeping with clear responsibilities. These include: to be licenced when practicing veterinary medicine; to be accountable to an oversight agency for actions taken; to deliver care under a valid veterinary/client/patient relationship (VCPR); and to not hold one’s self out to the public as licenced when this is not the case. And therein lies the challenge of using the title “Dr.” Every Canadian veterinarian has earned their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or equivalent), a degree title they maintain throughout their life, regardless of licence status. However, the broad public use of the title “Dr.” in front of a name, in many jurisdictions, including Ontario, goes hand in hand with a valid and current licence to practice veterinary medicine. Otherwise, no reasonable member of the public could discern who is actually able to legitimately provide care to their animal or group of animals and who cannot.
Retired veterinarians may choose to continue to hold a licence in order to volunteer their time when providing direct care to animals. Furthermore, there are also opportunities to use veterinary skills and experience in retirement without licensure. For the latter choice, care must be taken to ensure that a retired veterinarian is not inadvertently holding themselves out to be practicing without a licence. Some ideas to enable a retired practitioner to continue to have meaningful engagement without being licensed include: volunteering under the oversight of a licenced veterinarian on a particular project; mentoring new graduates or internationally trained colleagues; joining think tanks and research or advisory groups that are not public-facing; or serving on a provincial, national, or international committee of interest.
Transition is difficult and regulators truly understand that. However, veterinary medicine is held to a high standard for a reason — to ensure the highest standards of animal care and welfare and the greater public good.
Yours truly,
Jan Robinson, Registrar & CEO – College of Veterinarians of Ontario, member of CCVR.
Footnotes
Constructive and professional comments made in the spirit of intellectual debate are welcomed by the Editors. Writers are expected to be respectful of others and to ensure that letters are considerate and courteous. The Editors reserve the right to remove comments deemed to be inflammatory or disrespectful.