Any person who violates, or who aids or abets in violating, provisions governing veterinary medicine is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would prohibit a veterinarian from disclosing information concerning an animal receiving veterinary care, the client responsible for that animal, or the veterinary care provided to an animal except under specified circumstances. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would provide that all information obtained from a dog owner by compliance with the provisions relating to rabies control is confidential to the dog owner and proprietary to the veterinarian, and may not be released except as specified. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state.
Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Upon authorization received by electronic transmission when originated by the client responsible for the animal receiving services or an authorized agent of the client. In response to a valid court order or subpoena. Nothing in this section is intended to prevent the sharing of veterinary medical information between veterinarians or facilities for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of the animal who is the subject of the medical records. As otherwise provided in this section.