(a) A veterinarian shall not prescribe, dispense, or administer a drug, medicine, application, or treatment of whatever nature for the prevention, cure, or relief of a wound, fracture, bodily injury, or disease of animals unless a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists or as otherwise permitted by law, except when the animal patient is a wild animal or the owner of the animal patient is unknown. A veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The client has authorized the veterinarian to assume responsibility for medical judgments regarding the health of the animal patient. (2) The veterinarian possesses sufficient knowledge of the animal patient to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the animal patientâs medical condition. (3) The veterinarian has assumed responsibility for making medical judgments regarding the health of the animal patient and has communicated with the client a medical, treatment, diagnostic, or therapeutic plan appropriate to the circumstances. (b) A veterinarian possesses sufficient knowledge of the animal patient for purposes of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) if the veterinarian has recently seen, or is personally acquainted with, the care of the animal patient by doing any of the following: (1) Examining the animal patient in person. (2) Examining the animal patient by use of synchronous audio-video communication. (3) Making medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises on which the animal patient is kept. (c) For purposes of paragraphs (1) and (3) of subdivision (a), the client may authorize an agent to act on the clientâs behalf. (d) Synchronous audio-video communication is not required for the delivery of veterinary medicine via telehealth after a veterinarian-client-patient relationship has been established unless the veterinarian determines that it is necessary in order to provide care consistent with prevailing veterinary medical practice. (e) A veterinarian-client-patient relationship shall not be established solely by audio-only communication or by means of a questionnaire. (f) Only a person who holds a current license to practice veterinary medicine in this state is authorized to practice veterinary medicine via telehealth on an animal patient located in this state. (g) Before delivering veterinary medicine via telehealth, the veterinarian shall inform the client about the use and potential limitations of telehealth and obtain consent from the client to use telehealth, including acknowledgment of all of the following: (1) The same standards of care apply to veterinary medicine services via telehealth and in-person veterinary medical services. (2) The client has the option to choose an in-person visit from a veterinarian at any time. (3) The client has been advised how to receive followup care or assistance in the event of an adverse reaction to the treatment or in the event of an inability to communicate resulting from technological or equipment failure. (h) A veterinarian who practices veterinary medicine via telehealth shall do all of the following: (1) Ensure that the technology, method, and equipment used to provide veterinary medicine services via telehealth comply with all current privacy protection laws. (2) Have historical knowledge of the animal patient by obtaining and reviewing the animal patientâs relevant medical history, and, if available, medical records. If medical records exist from a previous in-person visit and are available to the client, the client may transmit those records, including any diagnostic data contained therein, to the veterinarian electronically. (3) Employ sound professional judgment to determine whether using telehealth is an appropriate method for delivering medical advice or treatment to the animal patient and providing quality of care consistent with prevailing veterinary medical practice. (4) Be familiar with available medical resources, including emergency res
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