Every year, the Board of Directors of the Order adopts a general monitoring program for the practice of veterinary medicine.

The Order’s Professional Inspection Committee – supported by inspectors, investigators and experts – is tasked with overseeing the practice of veterinary medicine. It does so through professional inspection visits. During these visits, the Order audits the files, books, registers, medications, products, substances, devices and equipment of a member.  This helps evaluate the member’s professional practice, record keeping, compliance with standards and adherence to existing laws and regulations.

At the end of the professional inspection visit, the member is informed of the corrective action to be taken, if applicable. The member is also asked to provide a list of all the measures that will be implemented to remedy the problems identified during the inspection. The Committee then follows up with the member as required.

If the Committee deems it necessary, it can also make a recommendation to the Board of Directors compelling a member to successfully complete a refresher course or development training. In addition, the Committee can recommend the restriction or suspension of a member’s licence to practise until certain conditions are met.                                                                                                  

The Order must ensure that veterinarians maintain and develop their skills throughout their working lives.

As such, veterinarians are required to complete 40 hours of professional development training every two years.

Professional development activities must provide veterinarians with the opportunity to acquire, maintain, upgrade, improve or expand the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the practice of veterinary medicine in Québec, and must comply with practice standards, as well as existing legal and regulatory obligations.

To learn more about the obligations of veterinarians with regard to continuing professional development, please refer to the Order’s professional development policy (french only).

As part of its mandate, the Order also protects the public from individuals involved in the illegal practice of veterinary medicine or the unauthorized use of veterinary titles.

Illegal practice involves the practice of veterinary medicine by an unlicensed individual –someone who does not hold a licence issued by the Order – who performs (or presents himself or herself to the public as being capable of performing) the following activities:

• Providing veterinary advice;
• Performing a pathological examination on an animal;
• Issuing veterinary diagnoses;
• Prescribing medications for animals;
• Performing surgery on an animal;
• Treating a medical or surgical veterinary disorder by using a mechanical, physical, chemical, biological or radiotherapy process;
• Approving or rejecting the meat of domestic animals for consumption.

What should I do if I witness the illegal practice of veterinary medicine?

The Secrétaire de l'Ordre is responsible for investigating potential instances of illegal practice of veterinary medicine. If you believe you have been witness to the illegal practice of veterinary medicine, please complete the Report Form for the Illegal Practice of Veterinary Medicine and send it to pratique.illegale@omvq.qc.ca.

After its investigation, the Secrétaire de l'Ordre can ask the Order’s Board of Directors for authorization to take legal action against the individual alleged to be violating the Québec Veterinary Surgeons Act and the Professional Code.

Protecting the public from charlatans

Only veterinarians listed on the roll of the Order des médecins vétérinaires du Québec are qualified and authorized to delivery veterinary care to animals. To make sure the veterinarian you are dealing with is a member in good standing, consult the search function of our Website.

FORM

If you believe a veterinarian has violated the Code of Ethics governing the practice of veterinary medicine, you can:                                                 

Fill out the form Request for an Inquiry into the Professional Conduct of a Veterinarian, sign it and send it to bureau.syndic@omvq.qc.ca with all relevant documents required for the review of your application.

OR

Write a letter, sign it and send it to bureau.syndic@omvq.qc.ca with all relevant documents required for the review of your application

This letter must include as much information as possible, including:

1. The names of the veterinarian(s)
2. The nature of your complaint
3. The reason(s) you consulted the veterinarian
4. The place where the consultations or events occurred
5. A description of the steps you took to resolve the problem with the veterinarian or veterinary facility, as the case may be
6. The contact information of all witnesses

Requests for inquiry can also be mailed or faxed to:

Office of the Syndic

800, avenue Sainte-Anne, bureau 300
Saint-Hyacinthe (Québec)  J2S 5G7 
Télécopieur : 450 771-0131

bureau.syndic@omvq.qc.ca 

You will receive a confirmation, which will include the Syndic assigned to your case. 

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STEPS IN A INQUIRY

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REQUESTING THE REVIEW OF A SYNDIC DECISION

You disagree with a decision made by Office of the Syndic?

If the Syndic concludes that filing a complaint is not warranted, you may ask the Order’s Review Committee to re-examine the decision. To apply for a review, send an explanatory letter within 30 days of receiving the Syndic’s decision.

After looking into the case and evidence submitted by the Syndic or Associate Syndic, the Review Committee will issue its opinion in writing within 90 days of receiving the request.

When issuing its opinion, the Review Committee may:

• Conclude that filing a complaint before the Disciplinary Council is not warranted and uphold the decision of the Syndic;
• Ask the Syndic to resume its inquiry and issue a new decision;
• Suggest to the Syndic that it send the case to the Professional Inspection Committee;
• Conclude that filing a complaint before the Disciplinary Council is warranted and suggest the appointment of an ad hoc Syndic which, after conducting an inquiry, if necessary, will make the decision to file a complaint or not.

To submit a request to the Review Committee, forward a letter with details to:

Secrétaire de l'Ordre

Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec

800 Avenue Sainte-Anne, bureau 200

Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec  J2S 5G7

secretaire@omvq.qc.ca

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HEARING SCHEDULE

The hearing schedule announces coming disciplinary hearings. It is posted at the Head Office of the Order at least ten days before the scheduled date of a hearing. It is also published online. The schedule includes the name of the veterinarian involved, the nature of the complaint and the date, time and location of the hearing.

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 DISCIPLINARY DECISIONS

The decisions of the Disciplinary Council of the Order are public, unless they are subject to an order to hold a hearing in camera or an order banning the disclosure, accessibility, publication or release of information.

Since June 2001, members of the public may access the decisions made by the Disciplinary Council on the CANLII or SOQUIJ Websites.

The Order itself also provides the public with information on disciplinary matters. If you would like to check the disciplinary history of a veterinarian, please contact the Secrétaire de l’Ordre at 1 800 267-1427 extension 209 or greffe.discipline@omvq.qc.ca

 

As a consumer of veterinary services, you have at your disposal measures to dispute the professional fees charged by a veterinarian.

 

CONCILATION

If you have a dispute with your veterinarian concerning the amount of an invoice for professional services rendered, you can file a conciliation of accounts application with the Syndic within 45 days of receiving the invoice, even if you have already paid it in full.

The Syndic moves ahead with conciliation using the process it considers most appropriate. Its purpose is to find a middle ground in the dispute, namely, a partial or total reimbursement on the part of the veterinarian, something acceptable to both parties.

How do I apply for conciliation?

To apply for the conciliation of accounts, simply fill out and sign the Request for the Conciliation and Arbitration of an Account form and send it to the Office of the Syndic by email bureau.syndic@omvq.qc.ca or by fax 450 774-0131

You can also send a letter explaining that you are disputing the professional fees charged by a veterinarian, in whole or in part, and provide your reasons for doing so.

If the conciliation process leads to a settlement, the fees will be readjusted accordingly. If there is no settlement within 45 days, the Syndic will send a report regarding the dispute to both the client and the member.

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 ARBITRATION

If the conciliation process conducted by the Office of the Syndic does not lead to a settlement between the parties, you can apply for the arbitration of professional fees before the Arbitration Council within 30 days of receiving the conciliation report. This Council holds an audience to hear the parties and receive their evidence. It then renders its ruling, which cannot be appealed.

To apply for arbitration, please email your request to

Secrétaire de l'Ordre

Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec
800 Avenue Sainte-Anne, Suite 200
Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec  J2S 5G7

secretaire@omvq.qc.ca 

* Please note that the Office of the Syndic does not issue medical opinions.