2023 New York Laws › EDN - Education › Title 8 - The Professions › Article 135 - Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health Technology › 6714 - Treatment Records.

§ 6714. Treatment  records.  1. Upon written request from the owner of
an animal which has received treatment from or under the supervision  of
a  veterinarian,  such veterinarian shall provide to such owner within a
reasonable time period a copy of all records relating to  the  treatment
of  such  animal.  For  the purposes of this section, the term "records"
shall mean all information concerning or related to the  examination  or
treatment of the animal kept by the veterinarian in the course of his or
her  practice.  A  veterinarian  may  impose  a  reasonable  charge  for
providing copies of such records. A veterinarian may make  available  to
the  owner  either  the  original  or  a copy of such record or document
including x-rays, electrocardiograms and other diagnostic tests and  may
impose a reasonable fee for the reproduction of such copies.
2.  A  veterinarian  licensed  pursuant  to this article, may disclose
records, as defined in this section, concerning a  companion  animal  as
defined  in  section  three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets
law which has  received  treatment  by  such  veterinarian  without  the
consent   of   the   companion   animal's   owner  under  the  following
circumstances:
(a) When a veterinarian reasonably and in good faith suspects  that  a
companion  animal's injury, illness or condition is the result of animal
cruelty in violation of section three hundred fifty-one,  three  hundred
fifty-three  or  three  hundred  fifty-three-a  of  the  agriculture and
markets law, the veterinarian shall report  the  incident  and  disclose
records concerning the companion animal's condition and treatment to any
officer   or   agent  authorized  pursuant  to  sections  three  hundred
seventy-one and three  hundred  seventy-three  of  the  agriculture  and
markets  law to respond to and investigate complaints of animal cruelty.
The identity of such veterinarian  making  a  report  pursuant  to  this
paragraph shall only be made available to an officer or agent authorized
pursuant   to   section  three  hundred  seventy-one  or  three  hundred
seventy-three of the agriculture and markets law.
(b) When a veterinarian reasonably believes that disclosure of records
as defined in this section,  is  necessary  to  protect  the  health  or
welfare  of a companion animal, a person or the public, the veterinarian
may disclose such records to any officer or agent authorized pursuant to
sections three hundred seventy-one and three  hundred  seventy-three  of
the agriculture and markets law to respond to and investigate complaints
of animal cruelty. The identity of such veterinarian making a disclosure
of records pursuant to this paragraph shall only be made available to an
officer   or   agent   authorized  pursuant  to  section  three  hundred
seventy-one or  three  hundred  seventy-three  of  the  agriculture  and
markets law.
(c) Any such veterinarian who reports an incident or discloses records
concerning  a  companion  animal's  condition  and treatment pursuant to
paragraph (a) or (b) of this subdivision shall be  entitled  to  receive
and  be  provided  with,  at  no  cost  to such veterinarian, written or
electronic documentation of such report by the agent or officer to  whom
such  report  was  made. Such report shall include but not be limited to
the date such report was made, the identity of  the  individual  against
whom  such  report  was  made, the species and description of the animal
about which such report was made, the nature  of  the  injuries  to  the
animal and the name and license number of the veterinarian who made such
report.
3.  A  veterinarian  acts  in  good  faith  within the meaning of this
section when he or she reasonably believes that his or her  actions  are
necessary  to  protect the health and welfare of the companion animal or
the public.
4. A  veterinarian  who  reasonably  and  in  good  faith  reports  or
discloses  records  in accordance with this section shall be immune from
liability in the form of damages in any civil or criminal proceeding  on
account of such reporting or disclosure.