AAEP Applauds Passage of Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act

Newsdate: Sat 11 January 2014 – 7:10 am
Location: LEXINGTON, Kentucky

Veterinarians who travel to their patients are now closer to having the complete ability to transport and administer controlled substances to provide pain management, anesthesia or euthanasia.

Making veterinarian's work more effective

Making veterinarian's work more effective

Veterinarians who travel to their patients are now closer to having the complete ability to transport and administer controlled substances to provide pain management, anesthesia or euthanasia.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners applauds the U.S. Senate for its Jan. 9th passage of the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act (S. 1171), which removes a loophole from the Controlled Substances Act that prohibits veterinarians from taking controlled substances beyond their registered premise.

“Most equine veterinarians provide care to their patients at farm or event locations, not in a clinic setting,” explained Dr. Jeff Blea, 2014 AAEP president.  “Our ability as doctors of veterinary medicine to relieve pain and suffering is essential to basic animal health and welfare. The passage of this bill in the Senate is extremely important to the animals we treat.”

Since November 2009, the Drug Enforcement Administration has informed the veterinary profession that the Controlled Substances Act does not permit veterinarians to take controlled substances beyond their registered location, such as a clinic or a home.  The DEA indicated that without a statutory change to the Act, some veterinarians may be practicing in violation of the law.

The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act must now pass the U.S. House of Representatives in order to become law.  H.R. 1528 has more than 140 co-sponsors in the House.

About the AAEP

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its more than 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary

About the Author

Flossie Sellers

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As an animal lover since childhood, Flossie was delighted when Mark, the CEO and developer of EquiMed asked her to join his team of contributors.

She enrolled in My Horse University at Michigan State and completed a number of courses in everything related to horse health, nutrition, diseases and conditions, medications, hoof and dental care, barn safety, and first aid.

Staying up-to-date on the latest developments in horse care and equine health is now a habit, and she enjoys sharing a wealth of information with horse owners everywhere.

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