Originally published in the July/August 2018 issue of the OVMA Observer.
Following a widely publicized case in Missouri late last year in which a veterinarian and their client were found liable for injuries to a student engaging in a learning activity, there has been concern regarding potentials risks and legal exposure for offering such opportunities to students of all ages. This includes structured programs for academic credit as well as less formal internship and shadowing experiences at practices and other venues.
For the last several months, your association has been doing research on viable options that offer reasonable assurances to veterinarians who offer these experiences and to clients on whose property such learning activity may occur. Our goal is to raise awareness of potential risks to students, as well as ensure that such pathways will continue to exist. To that end, we engaged legal counsel and a variety of knowledgeable perspectives to craft a liability waiver template that members can use to educate, assure individuals with whom they work, and offer reasonable protections.
This waiver essentially reminds students that working with veterinarians and animals involves certain risks, that they should utilize PPE when instructed to do so, and that the veterinarians and clients who offer these experiences also have a responsibility to not be negligent with regard to safety.
This waiver template is an OVMA member service and may be used by members wherever it may be of use, recognizing that it was drafted based on the laws of Ohio and may not be fully applicable in other states. You may access the document by logging in to the Members Only Center at www.ohiovma.org/members (click on “Downloads” under the “Member Resources” tab) or by contacting the OVMA office at ohiovma@ohiovma.org to request a copy.