Source: dvm 360
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit brought by Lincoln Memorial University against the American Veterinary Medical Association, challenging AVMA’s accreditation standards for Veterinary schools. The Justice Department emphasized that professional accreditors must comply with antitrust laws and cannot impose unnecessary or anticompetitive barriers that limit entry into the Veterinary profession.
While taking no position on the lawsuit’s merits, federal officials warned that accreditation bodies composed of market participants may face conflicts of interest that restrict competition, raise costs, and reduce innovation. The filing notes that states require veterinarians to graduate from accredited schools and that AVMA has accredited roughly 34 Veterinary colleges for decades, potentially contributing to workforce shortages and rising care costs. LMU alleges AVMA uses its monopoly power to impose excessive requirements that limit the number of accredited schools and graduates, harming pet owners, livestock farmers, and access to affordable Veterinary care.
Read the full story HERE: https://www.dvm360.com/view/justice-department-files-statement-of-interest-in-lmu-lawsuit