Excerpt From:
Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics
American Veterinary Medical Association
http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/ethics.asp
 

III. THE VETERINARIAN-CLIENT-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
        A. The veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) is the basis for interaction among veterinarians, their clients, and their patients.

        A VCPR exists when all of the following conditions have been met:

1. The veterinarian has assumed responsibility for making clinical judgments’ regarding the health of the animal(s) and the need for medical treatment, and the client has agreed to follow the veterinarian’s instructions.
2. The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal(s) to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal(s). This means that the veterinarian has recently seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal(s) by virtue of an examination of the animal(s), or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal(s) are kept.
3. The veterinarian is readily available, or has arranged for emergency coverage, for follow-up evaluation in the event of adverse reactions or the failure of the treatment regimen.
    

    B. When a VCPR exists, veterinarians must maintain medical records (See section VIII).

    C. Dispensing or prescribing a prescription product requires a VCPR

1. Veterinarians should honor a clients request for a prescription in lieu of dispensing.
2. Without a VCPR, veterinarians merchandising or use of veterinary prescription drugs or their extra-label use of any pharmaceutical is unethical and is illegal under federal law.