Will the RCVS replace the FRC as the regulatory body for farriery? The RCVS aims to become "the body which regulates the delivery of veterinary services by veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and perhaps also for other para-professionals who wish to shelter under the RCVS regulatory umbrella".
The disciplinary procedures of the RCVS do not comply with the Human Rights Act. In order to do so membership of the Disciplinary Committee would need to be comprised of non Council members, with half the membership "lay".
The Freedom of Information Act started to apply to the RCVS on 1st June 2006.
"RCVS - misunderstood by its members, the public, politicians and even itself. Attempting to reinvent itself as the profession's policeman by what could be seen as hysterical discipline. Ruled by the elected results of the most apathetic demonstration of democracy. Getting better at playing the victim in all this and succeeding to alienate vets by saying it is here to "protect the public"." George Cooper, Veterinary Times, 13th July 2002.
"Vets ... have the professional ethics of alley cats ... Their ethical requirement to put the health of their animal patients above all else is subject to, let us say, flexible interpretation. Few vets objected to the rural death ministy's slaughter of 10m [sic} healthy animals last year. They were, after all, being paid to superintend it." Dr Jonathan Miller, Sunday Times, 17th February 2002.
Veterinary certification: "If you are employed by DEFRA you can sign a false certificate without fear of reprisal." Frances Fish BDS, Veterinary Times, 26th August 2002.
"... what the RCVS now stands for: forget principles for the sake of expediency." Roger S Windsor MBE BVM&S, MA, BSc, MRCVS Veterinary Times, 20th January 2003.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Website
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