PRINTER'S NO.  782

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

768

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY STACK, FONTANA, BREWSTER, BOSCOLA, LEACH, BROWNE, FERLO AND FARNESE, MARCH 7, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MARCH 7, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending the act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995, No.326),

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entitled "An act regulating the practice of veterinary

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medicine and imposing penalties," further providing for

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definitions.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 3(15) of the act of December 27, 1974

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(P.L.995, No.326), known as the Veterinary Medicine Practice

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Act, amended December 9, 2002 (P.L.1370, No.167), is amended and

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the section is amended by adding a paragraph to read:

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Section 3.  Definitions.--As used in this act:

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* * *

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(15)  "Veterinarian-client-patient relationship" means a

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relationship satisfying all of the following conditions: (i) the

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veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making

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veterinary medical judgments regarding the health of an animal

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and the need for veterinary medical treatment, and the client,

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owner or caretaker of the animal has agreed to follow the

 


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instructions of the veterinarian; (ii) the veterinarian has

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sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate at least a

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general, preliminary or tentative diagnosis of the medical

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condition of the animal; (iii) the veterinarian is acquainted

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with the keeping and care of the animal by virtue of an

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examination of the animal or medically appropriate and timely

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visits to the premises where the animal is kept; (iv) the

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veterinarian is available for consultation in cases of adverse

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reactions to or failure of the regimen of therapy; (v) the

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veterinarian maintains records on the animal examined in

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accordance with regulations established by the board; and (vi)

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the veterinarian provides a client information sheet to the

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owner of the animal in cases of dispensing prescription drugs

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that will be administered by the owner in an outpatient setting.

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(16)  "Client information sheet" means a paper required by

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the Center for Veterinary Medicine of the Food and Drug

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Administration for the purpose of communicating important risk

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information to clients and that is given to a veterinarian by a

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prescription drug manufacturer so that owners of an animal are

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provided with vital product safety information including

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precautions, contraindications, signs of a possible adverse

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reaction and steps to take in the event of an adverse reaction

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to the prescription drug.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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