New Bill Nsw - Veterinary Practice Amendment Bill 2010

[lappiemum]

New Bill in NSW now passed (voted on Monday) - Veterinary Practice Amendment Bill 2010

Assented on 01/11/2010 - Act No 87 of 2010 (GG No. 125, 05/11/2010, p. 5372).

This Act to amends the NSW Veterinary Practice Act 2003 to make further provision in respect of complaints against veterinary practitioners and the powers and functions of the Veterinary Practitioners Board

The Explainatory Memo of this Bill can be viewed here

The Bill amends the principal (original) Act as follows:

(a) to enable the Veterinary Practitioners Board (the Board) to require a veterinary practitioner to undergo an examination by a health practitioner for the purpose of investigating a complaint against the practitioner,

(b) to protect persons who make complaints against veterinary practitioners from certain kinds of liability,

© to authorise the Board to suspend the registration of a veterinary practitioner with immediate effect in certain circumstances,

(d) to impose a 3-year time limit on the making of complaints against veterinary practitioners,

(e) to make further provision with respect to the continuing professional development of veterinary practitioners,

(f) to make other miscellaneous amendments.

[Katdogs]

(a) to enable the Veterinary Practitioners Board (the Board) to require a veterinary practitioner to undergo an examination by a health practitioner for the purpose of investigating a complaint against the practitioner,

I'm presuming this can cover mental health as well.

Does the Act allow complaints to be re-heard?

Not my complaint, someone else, but they might not want to follow up again anyway.

[Staranais]

I don't know the background, but it sounds reasonable to me. It also looks like it's protecting the vets too - not allowing complaints about incidents that occurred more than 3 years ago.