Proposition 129 is a dangerous step backward for veterinary care
For more than 40 years, I have committed my life to veterinary medicine, having served on the faculties of leading universities and practicing as an equine veterinarian across the country. Since receiving my doctorate in veterinary medicine from Colorado State University in 1978, I’ve seen the critical importance of rigorous education, extensive hands-on experience and professional standards in protecting the health and safety of animals. This is why I am deeply alarmed by Proposition 129 — a dangerous measure that will lower the quality of veterinary care delivered in Colorado and put animals at risk every day.
Proposition 129 seeks to create a new role in veterinary care, a midlevel practitioner known as a Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA). The VPA has been irresponsibly compared to a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, but the comparison is fundamentally flawed. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants complete years of education and hands-on clinical training before they are trusted with patient care, and they do not perform surgery.
In stark contrast, Proposition 129 would allow VPAs to perform surgeries after completing just three semesters of fully online lecture — without any laboratory training — followed by a single semester of basic clinical skills and a brief practicum.
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