NRS 638.1521 Practice of veterinary medicine without establishment of veterinarian-client-patient relationship prohibited; exceptions.

378 words·~2 min read·/nv/chapter-638-veterinary-medicine-euthanasia-technicians/638-1521·

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, a person may not practice veterinary medicine in this State except within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

2. A licensed veterinarian may, in good faith and without the establishment of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, provide emergency or urgent care to an animal when a client cannot be identified.

3. A veterinarian has a veterinarian-client-patient relationship concerning an animal if the veterinarian:

(a)Assumes responsibility for making medical judgments concerning the health of the animal and the need for medical treatment of the animal;

(b)Has knowledge of the present care and health of the animal sufficient to provide at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal, which knowledge must have been acquired by:

(1)Conducting a physical examination of the animal; or

(2)Visiting, within a period of time that is appropriate for the medical issue in question, the premises where the animal is kept;

(c)Obtains an agreement with the client to follow the instructions provided by the veterinarian for the care and medical treatment of the animal;

(d)Is readily available for follow-up evaluation or has arranged for:

(1)Emergency or urgent care coverage; or

(2)Continuing medical care and treatment which has been designated by the veterinarian to be provided by another licensed veterinarian who:

(I)Has access to the medical records of the animal; or

(II)Can provide reasonable and appropriate medical care; and

(e)Provides oversight of treatment.

4. A veterinarian-client-patient relationship is not established solely through veterinary telemedicine. However, once established, a veterinarian-client-patient relationship may be maintained via veterinary telemedicine between:

(a)Medically necessary examinations; or

(b)Visits, within periods of time that are appropriate for the medical issue in question, to the premises where the animal is kept.

5. In the absence of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship:

(a)Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), any advice which is provided through electronic means must be general and not specific to a particular animal or its diagnosis or treatment.

(b)Advice and recommendations may be provided via veterinary telemedicine in an emergency, but only until the animal can be examined in person by a licensed veterinarian.