AR-News: (Russia) Drug License Confusion Has Vets Scared to Use Ketamine

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004

By Oksana Yablokova 
Staff Writer A week after the government issued an order allowing 
veterinarians to use the narcotic ketamine as an anesthetic during animal surgery, vets' 
representatives say they are still not using the controlled substance, fearing 
prosecution from the federal anti-drug agency.
Last week the Health Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry issued a joint 
order allowing the drug to be used as a narcotic and a controlled substance 
permissible in veterinary practice. 
But vets said it might take months or years to resolve the issue. "The order 
does not close the issue once and forever," said Sergei Mendosa, president of 
the Veterinary Surgical Association.
In December prosecutors opened six criminal cases against vets and owners of 
animal clinics for illegal possession and use of ketamine, after Moscow 
federal anti-drug agents raided a number of the city's vet clinics and confiscated 
the drug. 
The issue sparked several protests from vets and animal rights groups. With 
no other affordable anesthetic, city vets have stopped performing operations. 






full story:
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/02/10/012.html 

"The world is a dangerous place,
not because of those who do evil,
but because of those who look on and do nothing.",
Albert Einstein
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