Kentucky Administrative Regulations › Title 201 - GENERAL GOVERNMENT CABINET › Chapter 16 - Board of Veterinary Examiners › Section 201 KAR 16:500 - Code of Ethical Conduct for veterinarians

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 1, July 1, 2024
RELATES TO:
				KRS
				257.080,
				321.185,
				321.351(1)(g)
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:
				KRS
				321.240(6) requires the
				Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners to establish a code of ethical conduct
				governing the practice of veterinary medicine.
				KRS
				321.351(1)(g) provides for
				the suspension or revocation of a license, imposition of probationary
				conditions or an administrative fine, or the issuance of a written reprimand
				for any violation of the code of ethical conduct promulgated by the board.
				KRS
				321.235(3) and
				321.240(5)
				authorize the board to promulgate administrative regulations to implement KRS
				Chapter 321. This administrative regulation establishes a code of ethical
				conduct for veterinarians.
Section 1.
			 A veterinarian shall not engage in fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation in the
			 practice of veterinary medicine.
Section
			 2. A veterinarian shall bill accurately and truthfully for
			 services rendered.
Section 3. A
			 veterinarian shall not engage in false, misleading, or deceptive
			 advertising.
Section 4. A
			 veterinarian shall not issue a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI)
			 unless the veterinarian has personal knowledge through appropriate examination.
			 A veterinarian shall not issue a CVI unless he or she has complied with all
			 entry requirements of the jurisdiction of destination.
Section 5. A veterinarian shall not represent
			 to the public that he or she is a board certified specialist in any specialty
			 of veterinary medicine unless that veterinarian has been certified by an entity
			 approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and has
			 submitted the certification for filing with the board.
Section 6. A veterinarian's conduct shall
			 conform to the currently accepted standards in the practice of veterinary
			 medicine.
Section 7. A veterinarian
			 shall maintain adequate equipment to treat patients that he or she is called
			 upon to treat in the practice of veterinary medicine.
Section 8. A veterinarian shall maintain his
			 or her service premises and equipment in a clean and sanitary
			 condition.
Section 9. A
			 veterinarian shall take sufficient time to perform a complete physical exam and
			 recommend the appropriate tests as needed to diagnose the condition of the
			 patient.
Section 10. A veterinarian
			 shall not neglect a patient under his or her care.
Section 11. A veterinarian shall not
			 physically abuse a patient under his or her care.
Section 12. Except as provided by Section 41
			 of this administrative regulation, a veterinarian shall have the right to
			 refuse any patient.
Section 13. A
			 veterinarian shall not practice veterinary medicine in a manner that endangers
			 the health of a patient or endangers the health, safety, or welfare of the
			 public.
Section 14. A veterinarian
			 shall not practice veterinary medicine if his or her ability to practice with
			 reasonable skill and safety is adversely affected by the use of alcohol, drugs,
			 narcotics, chemicals, or other substances.
Section 15. A veterinarian shall not over
			 utilize his or her practice. A practice shall be deemed to be over utilized if
			 it exceeds the needs of the patient, considering the patient's history and
			 subjective symptoms; the veterinarian's objective findings, the veterinarian's
			 reasonable clinical judgment, and other information relevant to the practice of
			 veterinary medicine.
Section 16. A
			 veterinarian shall not aid or abet any person in the unlawful practice of
			 veterinary medicine.
Section 17. A
			 veterinarian shall ascertain, before hiring, whether a person who may be hired
			 as a veterinarian has a license to practice veterinary medicine in the
			 Commonwealth of Kentucky and shall be responsible for ensuring that the
			 employee's license remains current.
Section
			 18. A veterinarian shall not permit a veterinary technician or
			 veterinary assistant to diagnose, prescribe medical treatment, or perform
			 surgical procedures other than the castrating and dehorning of food
			 animals.
Section 19. A veterinarian
			 shall create adequate records to document the veterinarian's examination and
			 treatment of his or her patients in accordance with
			 KRS
			 321.185(2).
Section 20. A veterinarian shall retain
			 records of his or her examination and treatment of each patient for a period of
			 at least five (5) years from the most recent examination of the patient.
Section 21.
(1) A veterinarian shall provide copies of
			 the veterinarian's medical records of the examination and treatment of a
			 patient upon the request of the client.
(2) Copies of records may be released to the
			 client's designee or another veterinarian engaged by the client to examine or
			 treat the patient upon submission of a signed Authorization for the Release of
			 Medical Records form pursuant to
			 KRS
			 321.185(3).
(3) A veterinarian shall provide copies of
			 the veterinarian's medical records to the board upon request by the board or
			 the board's designee for inspection or investigation pursuant to
			 KRS
			 321.185(3)(e)
			 1.