Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 59-698.16a
This is the official text of Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 59-698.16a, part of Oklahoma’s Stat. tit. 59, — part of the compiled statutory law of Oklahoma, published by the state as "Stat. tit. 59,." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
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Animal health records – Disclosure – Liability
Official statutory text
A. Animal health records shall be the property of the owner or
manager of a veterinary practice that has prepared such records, and
shall include, but not be limited to, written records and notes,
radiographs, sonographic images, video tapes, photographs,
laboratory reports, or other diagnostic or case management
information received as the result of consulting with other licensed
veterinarians or medical specialists.
B. Each licensed veterinarian shall keep and maintain a legible
patient record for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the date
of the last visit of the patient. Each licensed or certificate
holder veterinarian shall maintain records in a manner that will
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations Page 680
permit any authorized licensed veterinarian to proceed with the care
and treatment of the animal, if required, by reading the medical
record of that particular patient, and the record shall clearly
explain the initial examination. The State Board of Veterinary
Medical Examiners shall promulgate such rules as may be necessary to
ensure that patient records include certain necessary elements.
C. The owner or manager of any veterinary practice maintaining
animal health records shall provide the client or client’s agent
copies or a detailed written summary within ten (10) working days of
a request made in writing by the owner, unless the records are
required in an immediate life-threatening situation, at which time
the original records, copies of the written records or a detailed
written summary shall be forwarded to the attending or primary care-
licensed veterinarian within the same working day. The owner or
manager of any veterinary practice maintaining records shall furnish
the copies pertaining to the case upon tender of the expense of such
copy or copies. Cost of each copy shall not exceed the amount
specified in the Open Records Act per page, and no more than a
reasonable cost of duplicating diagnostic images, tapes, or
radiographs. There shall be no search fees assessed for the
production or retrieval of any medical records.
D. 1. No veterinarian licensed pursuant to the Oklahoma
Veterinary Practice Act shall be required to disclose any
information concerning the licensed veterinarian’s care of an animal
except on written authorization or by other waiver by the licensed
veterinarian’s client or on appropriate court order, by subpoena or
as otherwise provided by this section.
2. Copies of or information from veterinary records shall be
provided without the owner’s consent to public or animal health,
wildlife or agriculture authorities, employed by federal, state or
local governmental agencies who have a legitimate interest in the
contents of said records for the protection of animal and public
health.
E. 1. Any licensed veterinarian releasing information under
written authorization or other waiver by the client or under court
order, by subpoena or as otherwise provided by this section shall
not be liable to the client or any other person.
2. The privilege provided by this section shall be waived to
the extent that the licensed veterinarian’s client or the owner of
the animal places the licensed veterinarian’s care and treatment of
the animal or the nature and extent of injuries to the animal at
issue in any civil or criminal proceeding.
manager of a veterinary practice that has prepared such records, and
shall include, but not be limited to, written records and notes,
radiographs, sonographic images, video tapes, photographs,
laboratory reports, or other diagnostic or case management
information received as the result of consulting with other licensed
veterinarians or medical specialists.
B. Each licensed veterinarian shall keep and maintain a legible
patient record for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the date
of the last visit of the patient. Each licensed or certificate
holder veterinarian shall maintain records in a manner that will
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations Page 680
permit any authorized licensed veterinarian to proceed with the care
and treatment of the animal, if required, by reading the medical
record of that particular patient, and the record shall clearly
explain the initial examination. The State Board of Veterinary
Medical Examiners shall promulgate such rules as may be necessary to
ensure that patient records include certain necessary elements.
C. The owner or manager of any veterinary practice maintaining
animal health records shall provide the client or client’s agent
copies or a detailed written summary within ten (10) working days of
a request made in writing by the owner, unless the records are
required in an immediate life-threatening situation, at which time
the original records, copies of the written records or a detailed
written summary shall be forwarded to the attending or primary care-
licensed veterinarian within the same working day. The owner or
manager of any veterinary practice maintaining records shall furnish
the copies pertaining to the case upon tender of the expense of such
copy or copies. Cost of each copy shall not exceed the amount
specified in the Open Records Act per page, and no more than a
reasonable cost of duplicating diagnostic images, tapes, or
radiographs. There shall be no search fees assessed for the
production or retrieval of any medical records.
D. 1. No veterinarian licensed pursuant to the Oklahoma
Veterinary Practice Act shall be required to disclose any
information concerning the licensed veterinarian’s care of an animal
except on written authorization or by other waiver by the licensed
veterinarian’s client or on appropriate court order, by subpoena or
as otherwise provided by this section.
2. Copies of or information from veterinary records shall be
provided without the owner’s consent to public or animal health,
wildlife or agriculture authorities, employed by federal, state or
local governmental agencies who have a legitimate interest in the
contents of said records for the protection of animal and public
health.
E. 1. Any licensed veterinarian releasing information under
written authorization or other waiver by the client or under court
order, by subpoena or as otherwise provided by this section shall
not be liable to the client or any other person.
2. The privilege provided by this section shall be waived to
the extent that the licensed veterinarian’s client or the owner of
the animal places the licensed veterinarian’s care and treatment of
the animal or the nature and extent of injuries to the animal at
issue in any civil or criminal proceeding.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
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