2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 37. Professions and Occupations › Chapter 18. Veterinary Medicine › Part 1. General › 37-18-102. Veterinary medicine defined

37-18-102. Veterinary medicine defined.
(1) A person is considered to be practicing veterinary medicine when the person does any of the following:
(a) represents to the public that the person is a veterinarian or is engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine in any of its branches, either directly or indirectly;
(b) uses words, titles, or letters in this connection or on a display or advertisement or under circumstances so as to induce the belief the person using them is engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine. This use is prima facie evidence of the intention to represent oneself as engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine in any of its branches.
(c) diagnoses, prescribes, or administers a drug, medicine, appliance, application, or treatment of whatever nature or performs a surgical operation or manipulation for the prevention, cure, or relief of a pain, deformity, wound, fracture, bodily injury, physical condition, or disease of animals;
(d) instructs, demonstrates, or solicits by a notice, sign, or other indication, with contract either express or implied, or otherwise, with or without the necessary instruments, for the administration of biologics or medicines or animal disease cures for the prevention and treatment of disease of animals and remedies for the treatment of internal parasites in animals;
(e) performs a manual or laboratory procedure on livestock for the diagnosis of pregnancy, sterility, or infertility for remuneration or hire;
(f) performs acupuncture, ova or embryo transfer, or dentistry on animals;
(g) instructs others, except those covered under the provisions of 37-18-104(4), for compensation, in any manner how to perform any acts that constitute the practice of veterinary medicine.
(2) Subsection (1)(e) may not in any way be construed to prohibit the pregnancy testing by any person of the person's own farm animals or by the person's employees regularly employed in the conduct of the person's business or by other persons whose services are rendered gratuitously.
(3) A licensed veterinary technician engaged in tasks as provided in 37-18-702 is practicing only those forms of veterinary medicine allowed by law or by rule and must be under the direct, immediate, or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian as provided by law or by rule promulgated by the board or working under written instructions within the scope of practice allowed under 37-18-702 or by rule.
(4) This section may not be construed as modifying, amending, altering, or repealing any part of 37-18-104.
History: (1)En. Sec. 9, Ch. 82, L. 1913; re-en. Sec. 3225, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3225, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 90, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 191, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 211, Ch. 350, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 135, L. 1975; Sec. 66-2209, R.C.M. 1947; (2)En. Sec. 2, Ch. 191, L. 1965; Sec. 66-2209.1, R.C.M. 1947; (3)En. Sec. 3, Ch. 191, L. 1965; Sec. 66-2209.2, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 66-2209(1), 66-2209.1, 66-2209.2; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 43, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 650, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1382, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 392, L. 2021.