Chch vet wants to advertise

Press, 25 July 1984, Page 1

Chch vet wants to advertise

A Christchuch veterinarian’s attempts to lower his fees has brought him into conflict with his profession’s code of ethics. Mr Paul Scott, of the South Christchurch Veterinary Clinic, intends to lower his fees and, at the same time, have an advertising campaign. The code of ethics of veterinarians does not allow advertising or the restructuring of fees to gain an unfair advantage. Mr Scott is worried that his Beckenham practice will suffer when another veteriBfirm, Bailey, Marand Pringle, establishes a clinic in neighbouring St Martins. “From a business and commercial point of view I realise that no vet has a patch of right; what I am concerned about is that I am limited ethically from

retaining client numbers because of this code on advertising and restructuring fees,” he said. He had no objection to the other practice being established but he believed that he should be able to compete. “I want to be able to lower my fees to attract new customers and retain others, and if I am going to lower my fees I have to advertise the fact, otherwise no-one will know.” Mr Scott intends to abolish charges for housing an animal while it recovers after surgery, reduce fees for anaesthetics, and alter slightly the charges for routine work such as spaying. Mr Trevor Thompson, president of the Canterbury branch of the Veterinarians’ Association, said that the profession tended to keep away from advertising and

preferred to be low-key. “We prefer people to seek out help when required rather than taking a high profile through advertising. There is a general agreement that vets don’t advertise,” he said. Mr Thompson. said that Sessional charges had set to cover the costs of - veterinary surgeons’ work. “The only way the service can be offered at a cut rate is if the standard of the service becomes less efficient. We do not want to be involved in a cost war.” Mr Thompson said that if Mr Scott persisted with his plans, which were contrary, to the code of ethics, a complaint was likely to be made to the Veterinary Surgeons’ Board which would then decide if the matter required disciplinary action,” he said.