In the Cards: Betting on Veterinary Telemedicine Legal Reform

Many pets don’t go to the vet regularly because their owners face obstacles like cost, lack of nearby vet services, or other problems. This means pets may not get the care they need, leading to more serious health issues. Telemedicine, where you can talk to a vet online, can help make vet care more affordable and accessible for pet owners. It can also help with problems like not being able to bring your pet to the vet clinic. Dr. Greg Bishop presented at a veterinary convention and showed that people are happy with telemedicine for their pets and are willing to pay for it. Telemedicine can be cheaper and less stressful for pets than going to the vet in person. It can also help with the shortage of veterinarians and make appointments more convenient. It could also reduce stress for pets, as many animals get scared when going to the vet. This could make it easier for pet owners to take their pets to the vet. Telemedicine technology has been widely used in human health care, especially during the pandemic. However, the laws surrounding telemedicine in veterinary medicine are more restrictive. Many states require a recent physical examination to establish a relationship between a veterinarian and a client or animal. Some states even prohibit the use of telemedicine to establish this relationship. This has sparked debate in the veterinary community, with some arguing that animals cannot communicate their symptoms like humans can. However, others believe that telemedicine can still be effective in diagnosing and treating animals. There have been efforts to change the laws in some states to allow for more access to veterinary telemedicine services, but it remains a contentious issue. A Texas vet, Dr. Hines, challenged a law that required vets to physically examine animals before giving telemedicine advice. The court initially rejected his challenge, but Dr. Hines filed a new complaint after a Supreme Court decision on professional speech. The court then ruled that the law treating human doctors and vets differently was okay because animals can’t talk about their symptoms. But some judges disagreed, saying that vets and doctors are similar in how they use telemedicine. A similar case is also being fought in California. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rules limiting veterinary telemedicine were relaxed to protect public health. This has made it easier for veterinarians to help more patients through virtual appointments. This is important because there is a shortage of veterinarians, and many pets may not get the care they need. Increasing access to telemedicine may also help keep more animals out of shelters. Although some in the veterinary industry oppose this, the trend is moving towards more use of telemedicine.

Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/in-the-cards-betting-on-veterinary-telemedicine-legal-reform/