To use or not to use

The regulatory view point

Abstract

The practice of veterinary medicine is clearly an art guided by, among other things, the principles of biomedical science, analytical reasoning, and informed choices. The primary goal of the training and experience of veterinarians and other health professionals is to instill learned judgement into complex clinical situations. Notice I said judgement and not certainty. How many times have you, as practitioners, seen the truly "text book case'? On the contrary, the art in practicing veterinary medicine requires cerebral analysis of many disparate and sometimes conflicting facts - all of which must be reasoned into a practical diagnosis leading to a safe and effective and timely remedy.

The FDA policy on the unapproved uses of drugs in veterinary medicine (and by unapproved I mean not in accord with label directions, e.g. changes in species, disease, dose, schedule, etc.) is that a veterinarian may use any product he can legally obtain. Let's tease this statement apart into the practicalities for and responsibilities of the practitioner.