4826.6.
(a) It is unprofessional conduct for a veterinarian to administer, prescribe, dispense or furnish a drug, medicine, appliance, or treatment of whatever nature for the prevention, cure, or relief of a wound, fracture or bodily injury, or disease of an animal without having first established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship with the animal patient and the client as provided in this section, unless the patient is a wild animal, the owner is unknown, or rabies vaccines are prophylactically administered to the animal to prevent disease or loss of life.(b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), a veterinarian-client-patient relationship may be established if all of the following occur:
(1) The client authorizes the veterinarian to assume responsibility for making medical judgments regarding the health of the animal, including the need for medical treatment.
(2) The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal because the veterinarian is personally acquainted with the care of the animal by virtue of an examination of the animal or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept.
(3) The veterinarian has assumed responsibility for making medical judgments regarding the health of the animal and has communicated with the client about a course of treatment, diagnostics, or a therapeutic plan appropriate to the circumstance.
(c) Notwithstanding
subdivision (b), for the purpose of permitting a registered veterinary technician to administer to an animal patient preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of an apparent or anticipated internal or external parasite, a veterinarian may establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The registered veterinary technician administers preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites in an animal hospital setting under the indirect supervision of the licensed veterinarian or supervisor.
(2) If working at a location other than registered veterinary premises with unhoused or underserved communities, the veterinarian may authorize a registered veterinary technician to administer preventive or
prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites under the indirect supervision of the licensed veterinarian or supervisor only if animals can be transported to a licensed animal hospital within five miles of the field operation and the licensed animal hospital agrees in advance to take, treat, and admit any animal suffering adverse effects from the vaccination or medication.
(3) The registered veterinary technician examines the animal patient and administers preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites in accordance with written protocols and procedures established by the supervisor, which shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
(A) Obtaining the animal patient’s history from the client in order to
reasonably ensure that the administration of preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites is possible.
(B) Data that must be collected by physical examination of the animal patient in order to reasonably ensure that the administration of preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites is possible.
(C) Information in the patient history or physical examination results that would preclude the administration of preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites.
(D) Criteria that would disqualify the animal patient from receiving the preventive or
prophylactic vaccines or medications from the registered veterinary technician.
(E) Vaccination protocols for each animal species for which preventive or prophylactic vaccines are administered, that include, at a minimum, handling and administration of vaccines in accordance with manufacturer label recommendations and what to do in the event of an adverse reaction or other emergency.
(F) Preventative procedures for parasite control for each animal species for which medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites are being administered, which shall include, at a minimum, handling and administration of medications in accordance with manufacturer label recommendations and what to do in the event of an adverse reaction or other emergency.
(G) Documentation of all of
the following animal patient information:
(i) Name or initials of the person responsible for entries.
(ii) Name, address, and phone number of the client.
(iii) Name or identity of the animal, herd, or flock.
(iv) Except for herds or flocks, age, sex, breed, species, and color of the animal.
(v) Beginning and ending dates of custody of the animal, if applicable.
(vi) A history or pertinent information as it pertains to each animal, herd, or flock’s medical status.
(vii) Data, including that obtained by instrumentation, from the physical examination.
(viii) Treatment and intended treatment plan, including medications, dosages, route of administration, and frequency of use.
(ix) Diagnosis or assessment before performing a treatment or procedure.
(x) If relevant, a prognosis of the animal’s condition.
(xi) All medications and treatments prescribed and dispensed, including strength, dosage, route of administration, quantity, and frequency of use.
(4) The supervisor and the registered veterinary technician sign and date a statement containing both of the following:
(A) An assumption of risk by the supervisor for all acts of the registered veterinary technician related to
examining the animal patient and administering preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites.
(B) Authorization for the registered veterinary technician to act as the agent of the supervisor only to establish the veterinarian-client-patient relationship for purposes of administering preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites when acting in compliance with the protocols and procedures specified in paragraph (3), and only until the date the supervisor terminates supervision or authorization for the registered veterinary technician to act as the agent of the veterinarian or supervisor.
(5) (A) Before examination of, or administration of any preventive or prophylactic
vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites to, the animal patient, the registered veterinary technician shall disclose, orally or in writing, to the client that the registered veterinary technician is acting as the agent of the supervisor for purposes of administering to the animal patient preventative or prophylactic vaccines or medications, as applicable, and provides the supervisor’s name and license number to the client.
(B) After the disclosure described in subparagraph (A) is provided, the registered veterinary technician shall obtain the oral or written authorization of the client before proceeding with the registered veterinary technician’s examination of the animal patient and administration of the specified vaccine or medication. The client authorization shall be recorded by the registered veterinary technician in the animal patient’s medical record.
(d) All documentation relating to satisfaction of the requirements of subdivision (c) shall be retained by the supervisor for the duration of the registered veterinary technician’s supervision and until three years from the date of the termination of the supervisorial relationship with the registered veterinary technician.
(e) A veterinarian shall not prescribe a drug for a duration that is inconsistent with the medical condition of the animal or the type of drug prescribed. A veterinarian shall not prescribe a drug for a duration longer than one year from the date that the veterinarian examined the animal and prescribed the drug.
(f) For purposes of this section, “drug” means any controlled substance, as defined in Section 4021, and any dangerous drug, as defined in Section
4022.