Issue 2

Establishing a valid Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship

Regulations outlining the conditions that are required for a valid Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship have been established under AMDUCA.

Under the DBP, these legal requirements will be met with regard to prescribing drugs or specifying extra-label use in these circumstances:

• The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the farm and animals to be treated to allow protocols to be established that provide at least a general or preliminary determination by lay staff of the condition that will be treated.
• The veterinarian, based on his/her medical judgment regarding the health of the animal(s) and the need for medical treatment, prescribes/specifies drugs for use in cases matching a written protocol provided to the dairy by the veterinarian.
• The client or his/her representative has agreed to follow the instructions of the veterinarian regarding how animals to be treated are examined and diagnosed and what treatments are given.
• The veterinarian or veterinary practice is able to monitor the amount of use of the prescribed drug(s) to assure that the rate of use is consistent with the intent under the prescription.
• The prescribing veterinarian/practice is readily available for follow-up in case of adverse reactions of failure of the therapeutic protocol.