Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
A veterinary-client-patient relationship is the basis for
interaction between veterinarians and their clients and patients.
(1) A veterinary-client-patient relationship
exists when all of the following conditions have been met:
(a) The veterinarian has assumed
responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding the health of the
animal(s) and need for medical treatment, and the client or key party as
defined in WAC
246-934-020 has agreed to follow
the instructions of the veterinarian.
(b) The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge
of the ani-mal(s) to initiate, at a minimum, a general or preliminary diagnosis
of the medical conditions of the animal(s). This means the veterinarian:
(i) Has examined the animal(s) within the
last year, or sooner if medically appropriate; or
(ii) In cases involving operations with
several animals, such as encountered at farms, laboratories, or in shelters, is
personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the ani-mal(s) by virtue of
an examination of the animal(s) or by medically appropriate and timely visits
to the premises where the animal(s) are kept.
(c) The veterinarian is readily available for
follow-up evaluation or has arranged for emergency coverage and continuing care
and treatment.
(2) The
veterinarian shall not establish a veterinary-client-patient relationship
solely by telephonic or other electronic means. However, once established, a
veterinary-client-patient relationship may be maintained between medically
necessary examinations via telephone or other types of consultations.
(3) The veterinary-client-patient
relationship may be terminated under these conditions:
(a) Veterinarians may terminate a
veterinary-client-patient relationship as long as the termination does not
constitute patient abandonment as described in WAC
246-933-060.
(b) If there is an ongoing medical or
surgical condition, the patient should be referred to another veterinarian for
diagnosis, care, and treatment.
(c)
Clients may terminate the veterinary-client-patient relationship at any
time.
(4) For animals or
animal products for food consumption:
(a)
There must be a written agreement with the client that identifies the farm
veterinarian of record (VOR) who is accountable for drug use and treatments
administered to the animals on the farm operation;
(b) The VOR is the responsible party for
providing appropriate oversight of drug use on the farm operation. Oversight
includes establishment of diagnostic and treatment protocols, training of
personnel, review of treatment records, monitoring drug inventories, assuring
appropriate labeling of drugs, and monitoring compliance and outcomes.
Veterinary oversight of drug use must include all drugs used on the farm
regardless of the distribution of the drugs to the farm;
(c) Provision of drugs or drug prescriptions
must be for specific time frames appropriate to the scope and type of operation
involved and only for the management groups within the operation that the VOR
has direct involvement and oversight;
(d) A veterinarian issuing a veterinary feed
directive (VFD) must comply with applicable federal law, including
21 C.F.R.
558.6.
(5) Medical records must be maintained
pursuant to WAC
246-933-320(7).
(6)
(a) A
veterinarian shall use or prescribe drugs only within the context of a
veterinary-client-patient relationship. Veterinary prescription drugs are
restricted by federal law, under 21 U.S.C Sec. 353(f), to be used by or on the
order of a licensed veterinarian.
(b) Extra label use is legal only when
ordered by a veterinarian and within the context of a veterinary-client-patient
relationship.
