AAVSB draft practice act disturbs AVMA

Schaumburg, Ill.-The American Association of Veterinary StateBoards' (AAVSB) will soon vote on its controversial model practice act,and officials of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) areready to fight its passage.

The act has stirred much controversy with the AVMA because it challengesthe AVMA's long-standing version of the document.

In May, AAVSB officials refused AVMA requests to delay adoption of thedraft. AAVSB House of Delegates members now will vote on the model practiceact (MPA) during the group's annual conference July 16 in Boston. The meetingruns concurrent with the AVMA 2001 Convention.

AVMA officials are challenging the AAVSB's authority to compose the document,which, if passed, will provide a blueprint for state licensing agenciesand legislators when creating veterinary medical regulations and standards.

At presstime, the AVMA mailed letters to its 64,000 members, signed byPresident James Nave, DVM, that warns "implementation of (the AAVSB's)model practice act could inadvertently threaten public protection and imposeunwarranted regulations on veterinarians."

AAVSB leaders admit the document isn't flawless but say power and moneyare fueling dissention.

The original MPA, introduced by AVMA in 1964, provided a base for moststate laws regulating veterinary medicine. Although the document has undergonemany facelifts, complaints have surfaced that it is biased. It also refersto the AVMA-controlled Council on Education (COE); the only veterinary collegeaccrediting body in the United States.

The problem is states adopt those AVMA brand names into law, leavinglittle or no room to incorporate other testing or accreditation means, AAVSBExecutive Director Charlotte Ronan says.

In contrast, the AAVSB's MPA is ambiguous when promoting specific groups,especially AVMA-backed programs.