North Dakota Century Code Title 43. Occupations and Professions § 43-29-12.2. Veterinarian-client-patient relationship--Requirements

1. A veterinarian-client-patient relationship may not be established unless the veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the patient to initiate a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the patient. To establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, the veterinarian must be personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the patient by virtue of a medically appropriate and timely in-person examination of the patient by the veterinarian, or by a timely in-person visit to the premises where the patient is managed or resides.

2. The veterinarian must be reasonably available for patient followup care after a veterinarian-client-patient relationship is established.

3. The veterinarian shall provide oversight of patient treatment.

4. Patient records must be maintained according to rules promulgated by the board.

5. A veterinarian-client-patient relationship may not be established solely through veterinary telemedicine.

6. A veterinarian seeking consultation shall maintain the veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

7. A veterinarian may terminate a veterinarian-client-patient relationship by notifying the client that the veterinarian no longer wishes to serve the patient and client.

8. The veterinarian shall provide medical records to the client, another veterinarian, or a foreign practitioner designated by the client if the veterinarian-client-patient relationship has been terminated. The veterinarian shall allow the client a reasonable amount of time to arrange care with another veterinarian unless the circumstance, patient, or client threatens the safety of the veterinarian or the staff.

9. A veterinarian who in good faith engages in the practice of veterinary medicine by rendering or attempting to render emergency care may not be subject to penalty based solely on the inability to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

10. The veterinarian-client-patient relationship may extend to all veterinarians within the same practice with access to the patient records.