§ 6714 — Treatment records

§ 6714. Treatment records. 1. Upon written request from the owner of\nan animal which has received treatment from or under the supervision of\na veterinarian, such veterinarian shall provide to such owner within a\nreasonable time period a copy of all records relating to the treatment\nof such animal. For the purposes of this section, the term "records"\nshall mean all information concerning or related to the examination or\ntreatment of the animal kept by the veterinarian in the course of his or\nher practice. A veterinarian may impose a reasonable charge for\nproviding copies of such records. A veterinarian may make available to\nthe owner either the original or a copy of such record or document\nincluding x-rays, electrocardiograms and other diagnostic tests and may\nimpose a reasonable fee for the reproduction of such copies.\n 2. A veterinarian licensed pursuant to this article, may disclose\nrecords, as defined in this section, concerning a companion animal as\ndefined in section three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets\nlaw which has received treatment by such veterinarian without the\nconsent of the companion animal's owner under the following\ncircumstances:\n (a) When a veterinarian reasonably and in good faith suspects that a\ncompanion animal's injury, illness or condition is the result of animal\ncruelty in violation of section three hundred fifty-one, three hundred\nfifty-three or three hundred fifty-three-a of the agriculture and\nmarkets law, the veterinarian shall report the incident and disclose\nrecords concerning the companion animal's condition and treatment to any\nofficer or agent authorized pursuant to sections three hundred\nseventy-one and three hundred seventy-three of the agriculture and\nmarkets law to respond to and investigate complaints of animal cruelty.\nThe identity of such veterinarian making a report pursuant to this\nparagraph shall only be made available to an officer or agent authorized\npursuant to section three hundred seventy-one or three hundred\nseventy-three of the agriculture and markets law.\n (b) When a veterinarian reasonably believes that disclosure of records\nas defined in this section, is necessary to protect the health or\nwelfare of a companion animal, a person or the public, the veterinarian\nmay disclose such records to any officer or agent authorized pursuant to\nsections three hundred seventy-one and three hundred seventy-three of\nthe agriculture and markets law to respond to and investigate complaints\nof animal cruelty. The identity of such veterinarian making a disclosure\nof records pursuant to this paragraph shall only be made available to an\nofficer or agent authorized pursuant to section three hundred\nseventy-one or three hundred seventy-three of the agriculture and\nmarkets law.\n (c) Any such veterinarian who reports an incident or discloses records\nconcerning a companion animal's condition and treatment pursuant to\nparagraph (a) or (b) of this subdivision shall be entitled to receive\nand be provided with, at no cost to such veterinarian, written or\nelectronic documentation of such report by the agent or officer to whom\nsuch report was made. Such report shall include but not be limited to\nthe date such report was made, the identity of the individual against\nwhom such report was made, the species and description of the animal\nabout which such report was made, the nature of the injuries to the\nanimal and the name and license number of the veterinarian who made such\nreport.\n 3. A veterinarian acts in good faith within the meaning of this\nsection when he or she reasonably believes that his or her actions are\nnecessary to protect the health and welfare of the companion animal or\nthe public.\n 4. A veterinarian who reasonably and in good faith reports or\ndiscloses records in accordance with this section shall be immune from\nliability in the form of damages in any civil or criminal proceeding on\naccount of such reporting or disclosure.\n