Western Australian Current Regulations

VETERINARY PRACTICE REGULATIONS 2022 - REG 25H

25H .         Unprofessional conduct (Act s. 78)

        (1)         For the purposes of section 78(b) of the Act, the following are unprofessional conduct —

            (a)         conduct in connection with the practice of veterinary medicine that does, or is likely to do, any of the following —

                  (i)         cause unnecessary harm to an animal;

                  (ii)         adversely affect the health or safety of any person;

                  (iii)         damage the international reputation of Australia in relation to animal exports, animal products, animal welfare or sporting events;

            (b)         improper or unethical conduct in connection with the practice of veterinary medicine;

            (c)         a failure by a veterinarian to adequately supervise a person carrying out an act of veterinary medicine if —

                  (i)         the person is required under the Act to be supervised by a veterinarian when carrying out the act; and

                  (ii)         the veterinarian consents to supervising the person in relation to the act;

            (d)         publishing an advertisement in connection with the practice of veterinary medicine that —

                  (i)         is offensive; or

                  (ii)         is likely to be prejudicial to, or diminish confidence in, the practice of veterinary medicine;

            (e)         conduct set out in subregulation (2);

            (f)         conduct set out in subregulation (3).

        (2)         For the purposes of subregulation (1)(e), a practitioner engages in unprofessional conduct if the practitioner —

            (a)         fails to prevent the publication of an advertisement in connection with a veterinary practice business that —

                  (i)         is offensive; or

                  (ii)         is likely to be prejudicial to, or diminish confidence in, the practice of veterinary medicine;

                and

            (b)         is either —

                  (i)         if the veterinary practice business has a practice owner who is a practitioner — the practice owner; or

                  (ii)         otherwise — the veterinary supervisor for the veterinary premises at or from which the veterinary practice business is carried on.

        (3)         For the purposes of subregulation (1)(f), a practitioner engages in unprofessional conduct if —

            (a)         the practitioner accepts responsibility for the custody, care and control of an animal admitted to veterinary premises for the purpose of an act of veterinary medicine; and

            (b)         the practitioner does not ensure that a person in charge of the animal immediately before it is admitted is aware of, and consents to, the possibility that it may be left unattended or unmonitored for a period as a result of which it may suffer unnecessary harm; and

            (c)         while the animal is at the veterinary premises it is left unattended or unmonitored and suffers unnecessary harm as a result.

        [Regulation 25H inserted: SL 2025/92 r. 25.]