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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 18. Professional And Occupational Licensing
Agency 150. Board of Veterinary Medicine
Chapter 20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine
11/21/2024

18VAC150-20-173. Informed consent for surgery.

A. Before surgery is performed, informed consent shall be obtained from the owner and documented in the patient record. Veterinarians shall inform an owner of the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the recommended surgery that a reasonably prudent practitioner in similar practice in Virginia would tell an owner.

B. An exception to the requirement for consent prior to performance of surgery may be made in an emergency situation when a delay in obtaining consent would likely result in imminent harm to the patient.

C. If a veterinary preceptee or extern is to perform the surgery, either assisted or unassisted, the informed consent shall include that information. If the surgery is to be performed by a preceptee or extern unassisted by the veterinarian, the written informed consent shall specifically state that information.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 27, 2016; amended, Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 1, eff. October 25, 2017.

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