§ 14-360.1. Immunity for veterinarian reporting animal cruelty. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 14‑360.1.  Immunityfor veterinarian reporting animal cruelty.

Any veterinarian licensed inthis State who has reasonable cause to believe that an animal has been thesubject of animal cruelty in violation of G.S. 14‑360 and who makes areport of animal cruelty, or who participates in any investigation or testifiesin any judicial proceeding that arises from a report of animal cruelty, shallbe immune from civil liability, criminal liability, and liability fromprofessional disciplinary action and shall not be in breach of any veterinarian‑patientconfidentiality, unless the veterinarian acted in bad faith or with a maliciouspurpose. It shall be a rebuttable presumption that the veterinarian acted ingood faith. A failure by a veterinarian to make a report of animal crueltyshall not constitute grounds for disciplinary action under G.S. 90‑187.8.(2007‑232,s. 1.)