Washington State Veterinary Medical Association

Don't mistake this organization for what it is most definitely not.

As the site itself states, it is "the veterinarian's voice." Undoubtedly a very powerful interest group in the state as well.

Nonetheless, the public and especially pet-owners should know of its existence and how it functions--for veterinarians.

They may or may not have to do with the reason there are so many mediocre and bad veterinarians in Washington State.

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Washington is one of the states* where there is no law requiring a veterinarian to follow the ethical standards of the American Veterinary Medical Association (the vets' answer to the AMA) that state that "Veterinarians should honor a client's request for a prescription in lieu of dispensing [sell from vet's own stock]."

In Virginia, a vet's refusal to prescribe would be deemed "unprofessional conduct." In Vermont, it would be considered "profiteering." Even in states where veterinary statutes and regulation do not require vets to prescribe, pharmacy laws may.

* 25 (including the largest, e.g., California, New York) DO. 25 do not yet. The majority of vets in this country are required to prescribe rather than dispense medications.

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The site, among other things, advertises a three-night Pacific Northwest Cruise and encourages advertising with the WSVMA to expand (vet) business.

http://www.wsvma.org/i...

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The real power, it appears, lies with the Washington Veterinary Board of Governors, part of the Department of Health.

http://www.doh.wa.gov/...

Its connection(s) with the WSVMA is a wild guess.

Not a whole lot of transparency, as far as the public is concerned. It's easy to get complacent when it's so easy to get off the hook, no matter what you do.

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Really wish there were a state-wide PET OWNERS association. We're on our own...like loose sand.

We're the lower end of the feeding chain...the other end being the giant pharmaceuticals and the veterinarian industry...even though without us, they would bite the dust.

Our state government is a hands-off bystander in all this.

(Sshh! The veterinary industry needs better regulation, just as the banking and automobile industries and Wall Street do).
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