§ 25-38.1-4-5.5 — Maintenance of veterinary medical records; copies; confidentiality; exceptions to confidentiality

Indiana § 25-38.1-4-5.5

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Title 25: PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
• Art. 38.1: VETERINARIANS
• Ch. 4: Practice; Discipline; Prohibitions

Text

5. (a) Each person who provides veterinary
medical services shall maintain medical records, as defined by rules
adopted by the board.
(b) Veterinary medical records include the following:
(1) Written records and notes, radiographs, sonographic images,
video recordings, photographs or other images, and laboratory
reports.
(2) Other information received as the result of consultation.
(3) Identification of any designated agent of the owner for the
purpose of authorizing veterinary medical or animal health care
decisions.
(4) Any authorizations, releases, waivers, or other related
documents.
(c) The client is entitled to a copy or summary of the veterinary
medical records. A veterinarian may charge a reasonable fee for
copying or summarizing the requested veterinary medical record. The
veterinarian may require that the request be in writing.
(d) Except as provided in subsections (e) and (f) or upon written
authorization of the client, an animal's veterinary medical record and
medical condition is confidential and may not be:
(1) furnished to; or
(2) discussed with;
any person other than the client or other veterinarians involved in the
care or treatment of the animal.
(e) An animal's veterinary medical records and medical condition
must be furnished within five (5) business days without written client
authorization under the following circumstances:
(1) Access to the records is specifically required by a state or
federal statute.
(2) An order by a court with jurisdiction in a civil or criminal
action upon the court's issuance of a subpoena and notice to the
client or the client's legal representative.
(3) As part of an inspection or investigation conducted by the
board or an agent of the board.
(4) As part of a request from a regulatory or health authority,
physician, or veterinarian:
(A) to verify a rabies vaccination of an animal; or
(B) to investigate a threat to human or animal health, or for the
protection of animal or public health and welfare.
(5) As a part of an animal cruelty report and associated applicable
records that are part of an abuse investigation by law enforcement
or a governmental agency.
(6) To a law enforcement agency as part of a criminal
investigation.
(7) To the Indiana horse racing commission as part of an
investigation in which a horse under the care, control, or
ownership of a licensee (as defined in IC 4-31-2.1-19) has been
treated by the veterinarian or a member of the veterinarian's staff.
(f) An animal's veterinary medical records and medical condition
may be furnished without written client authorization under the
following circumstances:
(1) To the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University,
the animal disease diagnostic laboratory, or a state agency or
commission. However, an animal's veterinary medical records
remain confidential unless the information is disclosed in a
manner allowed under this section.
(2) Veterinary medical records that are released by the board of
animal health when in the judgment of the state veterinarian the
disclosure is necessary or helpful in advancing animal health or
protecting public health.
(3) For statistical and scientific research, if the information is
abstracted in a way as to protect the identity of the animal and the
client.
(g) An animal's veterinary medical records must be kept and
maintained by the veterinarian for at least three (3) years after the
veterinarian's last encounter with the animal.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.58-2008, SEC.41. Amended by P.L.9-2014, SEC.1; P.L.152-2025, SEC.25.