The stringent regulatory regulations contained in the Controlled Substances Act ties the hands of veterinarians in the United States today from legally administering medications that alleviate the pain and suffering of animals who are terminally ill, those with serious injuries or those suffering from painful chronic illness. As the laws stand now, veterinary practitioners are prohibited from transporting controlled substances in their vehicles; even if these drugs are stored in a locked box.
It is still against the law for veterinary practitioners to transport controlled substances in their vehicles – even if these drugs are stored in a locked box. And while many mobile veterinarians believe that since it’s necessary to carry certain pain-controlling drugs in the course of their work; as long they are carried in a locked box law, enforcement personnel consider its transport acceptable. Additionally since the Controlled Substance Act is not greatly enforced, mobile practitioners often carry these drugs to visit patients under their care. Unfortunately the reality is that in the United States this is still strictly illegal.
Veterinarians making house, barn or farm calls are only allowed to transport the specific amount of the necessary controlled substance, based on the weight of the patient being treated. If a subsequent appointment for another client is scheduled requiring the administration of a controlled substance, it prevents animals from being treated quickly since the practitioner must return to the home location to pick up the weight-specific dose in order to be in compliance with the law.
Presently by law, practitioners must register every location in which they store, distribute or dispense controlled substances. However, the Drug Enforcement Agency, (DEA) basically has historically overlooked the Controlled Substances Act for mobile veterinarians.
However, the DEA has been leaning in the direction of enforcement mainly in the state of California. Even though Rusty Payne, a spokesman for the DEA admitted that in the case of veterinarians the law seems controversial; he cautioned,
“It’s our charge and our mandate to enforce the Controlled Substance Act. Those in violation could receive scrutiny”.
How can animals be given the highest quality treatment if their hands are so incredibly tied?
This said, at long-last there is a ray of sunshine on the horizon for veterinarians who make house calls. According to a news item posted on the Humane Society’s Animals and Politics Legislative Fund’s site, on Wednesday, January 7, the United States Senate approved the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act – (S.1171) unanimously. This crucial legislation will finally give veterinarians the freedom to treat their patients effectively, allowing them to administer sedation and/or pain-killing medication, anesthesia or euthanasia to patients in the field, outside of their regular clinic location.
Introduced by the only two veterinarians serving in Congress; House Bill H.R.1528 has strong bipartisan support of 146 co-sponsors.
To help ensure that these bills pass which will give veterinarians the opportunity to render appropriate and timely care to their patients, the American Veterinary Medical Association is asking veterinarians to contact their representatives to ask them to cosponsor and vote for the companion bill in the House—H.R. 1528, the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act.
Animal guardians in the United States can also take action to get this law passed once and for all to untie our veterinarians’ hands so they are able to legally treat our pets appropriately. Please contact our veterinarian to remind them to take this crucial step right away.
What are your thoughts on the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act? Share your opinions in a comment.
I can totally understand the need for this law. Have multiple pets having a mobile vet would and could impact my critters quality of life. Now to the other side of the coin, isn’t there always a negative for each positive? As soon as the low lives find out mobile vets carry controlled substances the vets themselves could become targets. I hate to look at it that way but to be honest it would not surprise me one bit to see people who save animals lives could be hurt or even killed by some drug addicted jerk.
Yes, good point Marc, how do mobile mass spaying and neutering facilities deal with this law? Are they just conveniently ignored?
LOL. Great comment Cal. It is amazingly slow and laborious to change bad law. It is the nature of the democratic process.
In Russia, Putin just makes presidential declarations and it is law! Overnight. That can be good but obviously is normally bad.
….so is this legal? http://backyardtnr.com/?p=1001 I hope so!
That’s very sad- I’m sorry I didn’t know Daisy had passed Dorothy.
It seems that “b” is the nucleus/essence of this, and I am certainly now -thanks to Jo and Michael- understanding the obsolescence of this particular law, The Controlled Substances Act of 1970. My god, is this the only means of getting crazy laws still on the books amended? Why aren’t there mainframe computers responding to these needs in law, before our lawmakers/reformists get hit in the noggin with a sledgehammer? Are we more at fault, as citizens? or is it the Judicial System more oft than naught to blame? I am so naive. 🙁