The dilemma in the March issue considered the predicament of a vet who, during a follow-up vaginal examination, had discovered that a colleague had unknowingly caused a cow, from a good line, to abort a four-month-old conceptus. The colleague had inserted a progesterone releasing IUT and injected the cow with prostaglandin, after being called in by the farmer, who was concerned that this cow had not been seen in oestrus (IP, March 2015, vol 37, pp 150-151). Gwen Rees noted that, as the farmer had not been present during the examination, the immediate temptation might be to say nothing, but that this would contravene the declaration all vets make on admission to the RCVS to 'pursue the work of my profession with integrity'. She suggested instead being honest and asking the farmer if he was aware that his cow had been pregnant. She also stressed the importance of having accurate records in place and of making the practice aware of the situation as soon as possible. She added that it might be wise to contact the Veterinary Defence Society in case a complaint was made.
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