SECTION 573.20. Responsibility for Acceptance of Medical Care

(a) The decision to accept an animal as a patient is at the sole discretion of a veterinarian. The veterinarian is responsible for determining the diagnosis and course of treatment for an animal that has been accepted as a patient and for advising the client as to the diagnosis and treatment to be provided.

(b) For purposes of establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship under §801.351 of the Veterinary Licensing Act, Texas Occupations Code, a veterinarian can obtain sufficient knowledge of an animal by making medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises on which the animal is kept only if the animal is a member of a herd.

(c) A veterinarian must inform a client when:

(1) the client has specifically requested that the veterinarian diagnose and/or treat the client's animal; and

(2) the veterinarian reasonably believes there is a likelihood or possibility that another veterinarian may perform some or all of the diagnosis and/or treatment of the patient.

(d) Once a veterinarian-client-patient relationship has been established, a veterinarian may discontinue treatment:

(1) at the request of the client;

(2) after the veterinarian substantially completes the treatment or diagnostics prescribed;

(3) upon referral to another veterinarian; or

(4) after notice to the client providing a reasonable period for the client to secure the services of another veterinarian.

(e) Once a veterinarian establishes a veterinarian-client-patient relationship and prescribes medication(s), another Texas licensed veterinarian within the same clinic or hospital who has access to the patient's current medical records may refill that same prescription(s) without a veterinary-client-patient relationship.

Source Note: The provisions of this §573.20 adopted to be effective June 14, 2012, 37 TexReg 4229; amended to be effective August 29, 2013, 38 TexReg 5487; amended to be effective May 4, 2015, 40 TexReg 2418