Open letter calls for colleagues to #BeKind
"I've become increasingly aware of people using forums and other social media to attack and criticise individuals" - BVA president, Daniella Dos Santos.
BSAVA president Susan Paterson and BVNA president Jo Hinde are among the signatories of an open letter to colleagues condemning the use of “derogatory and offensive language” in online veterinary forums.
The open letter, published below, suggests that such language “is wholly inappropriate and falls far short of the expectations of professionals.” It also notes with concern that is is often females and those from minority groups "who face the worst of it".
In the letter, the leaders accept their views may be criticised or challenged, but warn that this right “does not extend to the right to personally attack us as individuals.”
Signed by representatives from BVA, RCVS, AVS, BSAVA, BVZS, BVNA, SPVS and VMG, the letter was organised by BVA president Daniella Dos Santos, whose theme for this presidential year is #VetDiversity. Ms Dos Santos said:
“Online veterinary forums can be a fantastic place for us to share ideas or concerns and support one another but they can also have a darker side. I’ve become increasingly aware of people using forums and other social media to attack and criticise individuals who I know are working hard for our profession.
“I’ve personally been on the receiving end of it, being described as foul, lacking in integrity, incompetent, unsuitable to lead, rotten, idiot, shameful, corrupt or a token. But I know colleagues who have faced far worse and enough is enough.”
She continued: “It’s high time we collectively speak up and I’m incredibly grateful to those who have co-signed this open letter to our colleagues. Every single vet or vet nurse who volunteers or works as an officer or committee member within the veterinary sphere and all of our lay colleagues work hard on behalf of our professions.
“Our key message is that the mantra to #BeKind, that is so prevalent in our veterinary community, extends to those in leadership positions too.”
The open letter in full:
An open letter to our colleagues
We are a mixture of volunteers and paid professionals, who give our time to lead and support the veterinary professions, and we are extremely honoured to be able to do so.
But we are increasingly concerned about the tone of some of the debates that are taking place in the veterinary world, particularly by the disparaging and demeaning language used against us or our colleagues.
As leaders in the professions, representing various different organisations, we absolutely expect to receive criticism and challenge of the work we do. But the right to criticise and challenge does not extend to the right to personally attack us as individuals.
Some of the most useful and informative discussions we have are those where our views and actions are questioned with dignity and respect. But the use of derogatory and offensive language to describe or refer to us as individuals is simply not acceptable.
Personal attacks and vilification could also make tomorrow’s leaders think twice before putting their name forward for such roles and subjecting themselves to such treatment by their peers. We might never know what a loss this could be for the future direction and advancement of our professions.
This behaviour is particularly prevalent in online forums, where closed groups and computer screens seem to embolden members of our professions to use language that is wholly inappropriate and which falls far short of the expectations of professionals. As we have seen in the national political arena, we also note with concern that it is often our female colleagues, and those from minorities, who face the worst of it.
We welcome challenge and debate. But please remember that it is possible to disagree with a person or organisation without resorting to personal attacks. Before posting online, please consider how this may be interpreted by the recipient.
Our professions are rightly focused on mental health and wellbeing, and the work of the Mind Matters Initiative and Vetlife are excellent examples of what is being done in this area.
#BeKind extends to those in leadership positions too.
List of signatories by organisation:
Katie Roberts: AVS President
David Charles: AVS Senior Vice President
Izzie Arthur: AVS Junior Vice President
Susan Paterson: BSAVA President
Phil Lhermette: BSAVA Senior Vice President
Ian Ramsey: BSAVA Vice President
Sheldon Middleton: BSAVA Junior Vice President
David Godfrey: BSAVA Hon Treasurer
Carl Gorman: BSAVA Hon Secretary
Amanda Stranack: BSAVA CEO
Daniella Dos Santos: BVA President
Simon Doherty: BVA Senior Vice President
James Russell: BVA Junior Vice President
Kathleen Robertson: BVA Scottish Branch President
Ifan Lloyd: BVA Welsh Branch President
Susan Cunningham: BVA Northern Ireland Branch President
David Calpin: BVA CEO
Jo Hinde: BVNA President
Wendy Nevis: BVNA Senior Vice President
Jo Oakden: BVNA Junior Vice President
Peter Kettlewell: BVZS President
Liz Mullineaux: BVZS Junior Vice President
Niall Connell: RCVS President
Amanda Boag: RCVS Senior Vice President
Mandisa Greene: RCVS Junior Vice President
Kit Sturgess: RCVS Treasurer
Lizzie Lockett: RCVS CEO
Anna Judson: SPVS President
Cat Curtis: SPVS Senior Vice President
Nick Lloyd: SPVS Junior Vice President
Nichola Watson: SPVS CEO
Richard Casey: VMG President
Gillian A Page: VMG Senior Vice President
Georgina Hills: VMG Junior Vice President
Miles Russell: VMG Finance Director
RCVS Knowledge has welcomed Professor Peter Cockcroft as editor-in-chief for Veterinary Evidence. 
