Code of Ethics for Veterinary Surgeons Cooperating with the Vetee/uVeterináře Platform

Date: 24.6.2026

Preamble

The Vetee/uVeterináře platform provides dog and cat owners with immediate professional assistance in moments of uncertainty – when a pet stops eating, behaves strangely, vomits, limps, or when the owner does not know whether it is a minor issue or a condition requiring immediate veterinary care.

Our goal is to give the client peace of mind, clarity, a sense of security and a specific professional solution. Immediately.

This Code of Ethics sets out binding rules for all veterinary surgeons cooperating with the Vetee/uVeterináře platform. 

The Code is based on internationally recognised principles of virtual veterinary care (including the VVCA) and primarily on the applicable Czech legislation and professional rules of the Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of the Czech Republic.

The service operates primarily in telehealth/teletriage mode – providing general professional advice and sorting cases. It is not a substitute for a clinical examination or telemedicine in the full sense of the word.

1. Mission and Values

Each veterinary surgeon cooperating with the platform represents the values of:

• Expertise and up-to-date knowledge of veterinary medicine

• Humanity and empathy towards both the client and the patient

• Transparency and honesty in communication

• Accessibility and speed of assistance

• Patient safety as the highest priority

2. Definition of Service – Telehealth vs. Telemedicine

The platform provides services in telehealth and teletriage modes. It is essential to distinguish between:

• Telehealth / Teletriage: General professional advice and sorting of cases (triage) – without establishing a diagnosis, prognosis or prescription for a specific patient.

• Telemedicine: Full-fledged remote veterinary care involving diagnosis, prognosis or prescription of medicines for a specific patient, provided exclusively by a licensed veterinary surgeon.

The veterinary surgeon always clearly communicates to the client in which mode the consultation is taking place and what its limits are.

3. Expertise and Professional Approach

The veterinary surgeon:

• provides recommendations in accordance with current knowledge of veterinary medicine,

• always acts in the best interest of the animal and its welfare,

• is aware of the limits of online advice and communicates them transparently,

• recommends an in-person veterinary examination whenever the situation requires it,

• does not downplay the severity of clinical symptoms,

• does not create a false sense of security where it is not possible to safely assess the condition remotely,

• continuously educates themselves and develops their professional knowledge, including in the field of virtual care.

4. Veterinarian–Client–Patient Relationship (VCPR)

The veterinary surgeon acknowledges that:

• Consultations on the platform take place primarily without a prior clinical examination of the patient, and therefore constitute telehealth/teletriage, not full-fledged telemedicine with an established VCPR.

• A full VCPR relationship requires knowledge of the patient, its medical history and, as a rule, a clinical examination.

• The veterinarian must hold a valid Certificate to Practice Veterinary Medicine in the Czech Republic.

5. Informed Consent of the Client

Before commencing the consultation, the client must be familiar with the terms of the service. The platform ensures that the client confirms consent containing:

• identification of the provider and their qualifications,

• the nature and limits of the telehealth/teletriage consultation,

• the fact that the consultation does not replace a clinical examination,

• the client's right to withdraw consent at any time,

• availability of alternative care in case of emergency or technical failure,

• personal and health data protection rules,

• the possibility to lodge a complaint with the relevant regulatory authority (Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of the Czech Republic).

6. Empathy, Humanity and Communication

The client contacts us under stress, uncertainty or concern for their pet. The method of communication is just as important as the professional accuracy of the answer.

The veterinary surgeon:

• communicates calmly, empathetically and with respect,

• never ridicules the client or belittles their concerns,

• uses clear language without unnecessary professional jargon,

• strives to provide the client with a sense of support and security,

• understands that for the owner, their animal is a member of the family,

• responds within a reasonable time according to the platform's internal rules,

• provides clear and practical recommendations – on what to do next.

7. Patient Safety

Patient safety is always the highest priority. The veterinary surgeon:

• recommends an immediate in-person visit to a veterinarian in case of suspected acute or life-threatening condition,

• does not support dangerous home remedies,

• does not recommend initiating veterinary prescription-only medicines without examining the patient – especially antibiotics, corticoids or other medicines that can significantly affect the animal's health status,

• ensures safe dosing of medicines and correct instructions,

• takes into account age, weight, species, breed and other individual factors of the patient,

• transparently communicates uncertainty if sufficient information is not available.

8. Prescribing Medicines within an Online Consultation

Within a telehealth consultation, the veterinary surgeon does not prescribe veterinary prescription-only medicines. Recommendations do not constitute a veterinary prescription. In case Rx medicines are needed, the client is referred to an in-person examination.

9. Documentation of Consultations

Records of online consultations are kept carefully and in compliance with GDPR.

In this context, the platform ensures:

• archiving of all communication between the client and the veterinary surgeon,

• recording basic data about the patient (species, breed, gender, weight, age, description of symptoms),

• secure storage and encryption of data in compliance with GDPR,

• availability of records for the client upon request,

• clear definition of who has access to the data and under what conditions.

The veterinary surgeon does not share communication, photos or documentation outside the platform without the client's consent.

10. Licensing and Legal Framework

The veterinary surgeon cooperating with the platform:

• holds a valid Certificate to Practice Veterinary Medicine issued by the Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of the Czech Republic,

• complies with the applicable Act No. 166/1999 Coll. on Veterinary Care and subsequent regulations,

• is aware that providing veterinary services to clients in other jurisdictions may be subject to different legal requirements,

• continuously monitors developments in legislation in the field of telemedicine and virtual care.

11. Emergency Protocol and Technical Failure

In the event of an acute threat to the health or life of the patient, the veterinary surgeon:

• immediately recommends that the client contact the nearest veterinary emergency service or clinic,

• provides basic first-aid instructions, if safe and within their competence,

• does not delay the client with unnecessary communication in a situation where immediate physical care is required.

In the event of a technical failure of the platform:

• the client is informed in advance about alternative contact methods,

• the platform provides a backup communication channel for acute cases.

12. Collegiality and Respect for the Veterinary Profession

The veterinary surgeon:

• respects the work of colleagues and other veterinary clinics,

• does not publicly or privately slander other veterinary surgeons,

• does not evaluate the work of another veterinarian without knowledge of the complete case,

• supports the good name of the veterinary profession,

• acts professionally towards clients and colleagues alike,

• understands that they represent not only themselves, but also the whole team.

Internally, we support open communication, sharing of experiences and mutual help among veterinarians.

13. Corporate Culture and Teamwork

The platform is built on:

• mutual respect and trust,

• expertise and continuous education,

• open communication,

• willingness to help one another,

• a common goal to provide quality and accessible veterinary help.

Each team member has the right to ask colleagues for consultation or support with more complex cases. A strong team creates a high-quality service for clients and a better working environment for veterinarians.

14. Complaints and Regulatory Supervision

The client has the right:

• to file a complaint regarding the quality of the consultation through the platform,

• to turn to the Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of the Czech Republic as the relevant regulatory authority,

• to withdraw consent to the provision of the service at any time,

• for consumer disputes, the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) is competent.

The platform undertakes to resolve complaints transparently, within a reasonable timeframe and with respect to both parties.

Final Provisions

Compliance with this Code of Ethics is a fundamental part of cooperation with the Vetee.ai / uVeterináře platform.

Our common goal is to provide modern, professional and humane veterinary help that will help clients navigate uncertain situations and ensure safe and quality care for animals.

Every response, every communication and every recommendation affects client trust in our service and in the veterinary profession as a whole. Therefore, we want to be:

• professional,

• empathetic,

• clear,

• accessible,

• and always on the side of the animal and its owner.