Communication and Veterinary Professional Support ServicesDifficulty 2/5
A client asks the technician whether their pet's lump is cancer. What is the appropriate response?
- ADecline to answer and refer the client to an external specialist clinic
- BGive an opinion based on the lump's appearance and the patient's age
- CExplain that the veterinarian will discuss the findings and sampling options
- DTell the client it is unlikely to be serious to reduce their anxiety
Show answer and rationale
Correct: C. Diagnosis and prognosis are outside the technician's scope. Relaying that the veterinarian will discuss the findings and what sampling would show is both accurate and within scope.
- B — Offering a diagnostic opinion exceeds the technician's scope of practice.
- D — Reassurance without a diagnosis is misleading and may delay care.
- A — An unnecessary external referral bypasses the attending veterinarian.