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BACKGROUND

The Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics was founded in 1994 by a group of veterinarians, biomedical researchers, and academics to promote discussion and debate about ethical issues arising in and relevant to veterinary practice. The Society presently has approximately 160 members, including veterinary school deans, officers of the AVMA and state veterinary medical associations, board-certified laboratory animal medicine specialists, biomedical scientists, officers of humane societies, clinical veterinary practitioners, members of veterinary school and university faculties, and veterinary-oriented students. The SVME publishes a newsletter, holds a plenary meeting with lectures and discussions at the AVMA annual convention, distributes information regarding recent publications relevant to veterinary ethics, and actively seeks to increase and elevate the level of discussion of issues in veterinary ethics. Although most members of the SVME are veterinarians, membership is not limited to veterinarians.

OBJECTIVES

The major objectives of the SVME are:

	To encourage ethical practices and professional behavior of veterinarians in all aspects of the profession.
	To increase the understanding of the philosophical, social, moral and ethical values encountered by the veterinary profession.
	To sponsor seminars and other presentations on ethics and values at local, state, regional and national meetings of veterinarians and other interested individuals.
	To promote the teaching of ethical and value issues at colleges of veterinary medicine and to identify speakers on these subjects.
	To encourage persons from other professions and disciplines, such as biomedical research, medicine, law, political science, philosophy and theology, to engage in cross-disciplinary discussions and studies of these issues.
	To exchange information about veterinary ethical issues via bulletins, periodicals, and newsletters.
	To maintain archives of appropriate documents and materials related to these disciplines.

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