Legal and ethical concerns
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2. Legal and ethical concerns
Published 11 June 2021 | updated 14 September 2021
All practice-based research must meet legal and ethical standards to protect animal welfare, to ensure clients are able to give fully informed consent and to protect the reputation of those carrying out the research. Evidence of ethical approval is now frequently required by journals before they will accept manuscripts for publication.
Before undertaking any form of practice-based research veterinary surgeons should familiarise themselves with the RCVS Guidance relating to carrying out research as part of recognised veterinary practice and the report by a joint RCVS/BVA Working Party on ethical review for practice-based research.
- Code of Professional Conduct for veterinary surgeons: 25. Recognised veterinary practice [RCVS][online] Available from: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/recognised-veterinary-practice/ [Accessed 28 May 2021]
- RCVS and BVA (2013) Ethical review for practice-based research: a report of a joint RCVS/BVA working party. Available from: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/publications/ethical-review-for-practice-based-research/ [Accessed 28 May 2021]
- Moore, S.A. et al (2021) A CTSA One Health Alliance guidance on institutional review of veterinary clinical studies BMC Veterinary Research, 17, no. 83. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02790-4
- Dennison, N. and Petrie, A. (2020) Legislative framework for animal research in the UK. In Practice, 42 (9), pp. 488-496. https://doi.org/10.1136/inp.m3920
- Fordyce, P. and Mullan, S. (2017) Nature and governance of veterinary clinical research conducted in the UK. Veterinary Record, 180 (3), pp. 69-69. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.103808
- Everitt, S. (2013) Veterinary clinical research – legal, ethical and welfare considerations. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 53 (3), pp. 117-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12040
- Sobolewski, J. et al. (2019) Readability of consent forms in veterinary clinical research. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 33 (2), pp.350-355. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15462
- Clutton, E. R. (2009) Clinical studies, pain and ethics. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 50 (2), pp. 59-60. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2008.00735.x
- Yeates, J. et al. (2013) Ethical and evidential considerations on the use of novel therapies in veterinary practice. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 54 (3), pp. 119- 123. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12031
- Yeates, J.W., 2016. Ethical principles for novel therapies in veterinary practice. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 57(2), pp.67-73. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12402
Podcasts
- Mellanby, R. (2017) The only way is ethics? Undertaking research as a practice-based vet/RVN. Veterinary Evidence, 2 (1), no. 84. https://doi.org/10.18849/VE.V2I1.84
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