Dealing with pets registered to someone other than client

Client confidentiality and microchipping guidance for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses has been amended by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

The amendments address the issue surrounding when a patient is brought to the practice by someone other than its registered owner.

In this situation, there are grey areas with regards to rules on client confidentiality and data protection for both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.

As such, a brand new flow diagram has been added to Chapter 14 of the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, along with supporting guidance.

There are various reasons why a client may bring in an animal that is not registered to them, for example pets that have been rehomed or sold without updated microchips, civil disputes between owners and, in some cases, stolen animals.

Click here to view the amended chapter.