Georgia Board of Veterinary Medicine Policies Regarding Prescriptions

Internet Pharmacies
At the August 2001 meeting the Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine adopted the statement of the American Veterinary Medical Association concerning Internet Pharmacies as follows:
1. Drug therapy, when medically indicated, should be initiated by the attending veterinarian in the context of a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
2. Drugs may be dispensed or prescribed. Veterinarians should honor client requests to prescribe rather than dispense a drug (AVMA Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics). The client has the option of filling a prescription at any pharmacy.
3. Clients might be advised to select an Internet pharmacy certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (vipps@nabp.net) whose VIPPSTM program and its accompanying seal of approval identify to the public those online pharmacies that are appropriately licensed and prepared to practice pharmacy via the Internet.
4. Veterinarians asked by pharmacies to approve prescriptions they have not initiated should do so only if the prescription is appropriate and a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists.
5. It is within the veterinarian’s (not the pharmacy’s) purview to determine the medical criteria whereby a drug is indicated.)
6. As with any prescription, a written record should be maintained.
7. Prescribing veterinarians should assure that information regarding the proper use of the prescribed drug and the risks associated with its use are communicated to the client, regardless of the drug source.
8. Use of drugs for foreign origin that lack FDA approval generally is not permitted.

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Request of Records and/or Written Prescription
to be Released
1. Upon receipt of a properly signed and executed release from the
patient, the veterinarian, at his/her discretion, may release the
original x-ray film, patient records, etc. to the patient or his/her
designee.
2. If the Board office receives a complaint against a veterinarian
whereby the veterinarian will not release the records and/or a
written prescription to a patient at the patient’s request, a letter
from the Board will be sent via Certified Mail to the veterinarian to
release the records and/or provide a written prescription to the
patient within 10 days of receipt of the certified letter, and submit
proof that the records have been mailed to the patient (via Certified
Mail) to the Board within 10 days as well. The veterinarian must
either submit to the Board proof of the mailing of the records
and/or written prescription, or respond to the Board as to why the
records and/or written prescription cannot/will not be mailed
within 10 days of the receipt of the certified letter from the Board.
3. If the Board office has not received proof that the records and/or
written prescription have been released to the patient, or has not
received a response from the veterinarian within 15 days of the
date of the request was mailed from the Board’s office, the
veterinarian will:
 Have his/her license sanctioned by the Board with a
PUBLIC REPRIMAND, which will be a permanent part of
the veterinarian’s records; and
 Pay a $500.00 fine.e drug source.
8. Use of drugs for foreign origin that lack FDA approval generally is not permitted.

Policies are found here