4 Colo. Code Regs. § 727-1.10
This Rule is promulgated pursuant to sections 12-20-204 and 12-315-106(5)(g), C.R.S.
Veterinary professionals should place the needs of the patient first in their practice of veterinary medicine. This includes the needs to relieve disease, diminish suffering, minimize pain and fear, provide palliative care where appropriate and ensure patient care to the best of their abilities.
Once a veterinarian has accepted a patient for care and established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), care must be provided as best as possible within the constraints of the agreed upon parameters of the VCPR. Veterinarians may decline a VCPR in individual cases, and are advised to do so in cases where they lack the appropriate expertise, environment, or experience to practice safely. In cases where the client limits payment, veterinarians are encouraged to clearly inform the client of the prognosis with and without treatment. Veterinary professionals should provide care only within their ability and competence.
Veterinarians who advertise and offer twenty-four hour care to clients must ensure that such care is provided on a twenty-four hour basis. Staff must be available on site throughout the twenty-four hour period, and care given must be documented. If the veterinarian lacks the resources to treat such patients, then the client should be referred to a facility with the necessary resources. The veterinarian should also provide necessary supportive care prior to the transfer, and expedite transfer unless the referral is declined.
In emergency situations, veterinary professionals should provide essential services to patients when necessary to relieve suffering or to save life. If the veterinarian is unable to treat an emergency patient, then the veterinarian should offer to refer the client to a facility with the necessary resources to treat the patient, provide necessary supportive care in the interim prior to transfer, and expedite the transfer unless the referral is declined. Veterinary professionals are encouraged to clearly inform the client of the prognosis with and without treatment.
Veterinary professionals should be honest, fair, and considerate in their dealings with clients and other colleagues. It is unethical for veterinarians to misrepresent their credentials, experience, expertise or academic degrees. Veterinary professionals must not engage in fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, nor become involved in situations where a conflict of interest may occur.
The choice of treatments or patient care should consider the welfare of the patient, welfare and financial resources of the client, and the safety of the public.
The veterinary-client-patient relationship is the basis for veterinary care. To establish such a relationship, the veterinarian should have sufficient knowledge of the patient to understand its current health and render at least a preliminary diagnosis. This would require that the veterinarian is personally acquainted with the patient either through office or home visits. This section shall not be construed to allow the establishment of a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) solely by telephonic or other electronic means.
Veterinarians may only prescribe medication when they have a VCPR with the patient. Under federal and state law, veterinarians may not sell, distribute, dispense or participate in or arrange for the sale of prescription medicines in any fashion except through a VCPR or in compliance with Rule 1.13 . Veterinarians are charged with knowledge of the pharmacy practice act provisions that apply to their practice, as well as the laws and regulations of the federal food and drug administration. When a client requests a copy of a prescription for their animal under current treatment, the veterinarian must provide it to the client.
Medical records must be kept by veterinarians in all cases in which they have a VCPR. Records must also be kept in any other situation where a veterinarian has provided care or prescribed or dispensed drugs. Clients have a statutory right to copies of the medical records of their animals, and copies must be provided in a reasonable length of time.
The veterinary professional must communicate to the client the procedures, diagnoses, proposed treatments, estimated cost and prognosis for the patient. Such communication should be sufficient to enable the client to understand clearly the problem and the choices that must be made. If other staff is involved in the communication process, it is the responsibility of the veterinary professional to ensure that such communications are appropriate.
No veterinary professional may advertise Specialty Board Certification without certification by the American Veterinary Medical Association or the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America in that specialty area. It is unethical to allow one's credentials to be used by any organization that engages in, or has members that engage in, the unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine. A veterinary professional should only advertise information about their practice that is accurate and services that are actually provided.
No veterinary professional may engage in acts that aid and abet the unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine. This includes situations where duties delegated to office staff include duties reserved for veterinarians. This also includes, but is not limited to, employment where non-veterinarians influence or engage in the practice of veterinary medicine.
All veterinary professionals must maintain a sanitary environment in which they care for patients. This includes, but is not limited to, sanitization, disinfection, disposal of water and any other activity required to address the cleanliness in which patients are treated. If veterinary professionals work in clinics they do not own, they are responsible for ensuring that their work is done in a clean environment and within the standards of care.
4 CCR 727-1.10