Media Contact: Derinda Blakeney, APR | OSU College of Veterinary Medicine | 405-744-6740 | derinda@okstate.edu
Animal owners often turn to social media for answers to all types of questions including medical advice for their pets and livestock. Online information is abundant but not always accurate, and it may be difficult for some owners to differentiate the good from the bad. Most animal owners are also willing to share their experiences and help others via social media, but depending on the advice given, they may be in violation of the law.
A non-veterinarian who gives an animal owner specific medical advice, whether in person or via social media, could be viewed as “practicing veterinary medicine without a license.” Every state has a Veterinary Practice Act that prohibits individuals from diagnosing diseases, recommending specific treatments, performing medical procedures and prescribing medications unless they are a licensed veterinarian in that state. In order to offer advice or treat an animal, a licensed veterinarian must also have a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship, or VCPR.
That means the veterinarian has examined or has sufficient knowledge of the animal and has assumed responsibility for making medical judgements. The veterinarian must also be willing to provide some form of after-care and must maintain written medical records detailing the exam findings, diagnosis, and treatment(s) given. Even a veterinarian is prohibited from offering specific...
Read Full Story: https://news.okstate.edu/articles/veterinary-medicine/2021/veterinary_viewpoints_giving_and_receiving_veterinary_medical_advice_via_social_media.html
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