§ 90-181. Definitions. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 90‑181. Definitions.

When used in this Article these words and phrases shall be defined asfollows:

(1)        "Accredited school of veterinary medicine" meansany veterinary college or division of a university or college that offers thedegree of doctor of veterinary medicine or its equivalent and that conforms tothe standards required for accreditation by the American Veterinary MedicalAssociation.

(2)        "Animal" means any animal, mammal other than manand includes birds, fish, and reptiles, wild or domestic, living or dead.

(2a)      "Animal dentistry" means the treatment, extraction,cleaning, adjustment, or "floating" (filing or smoothing) of ananimal's teeth, and treatment of an animal's gums.

(3)        "Board" means the North Carolina VeterinaryMedical Board.

(3a)      "Cruelty to animals" means to willfully overdrive,overload, wound, injure, torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance,cruelly beat, needlessly mutilate or kill any animal, or cause or procure anyof these acts to be done to an animal; provided, that the words"torture," "torment," or "cruelty" include everyact, omission, or neglect causing or permitting unjustifiable physical pain,suffering, or death.

(4)        "Limited veterinary license" or "limitedlicense" means a license issued by the Board under authority of thisArticle that specifically, by its terms, restricts the scope or areas ofpractice of veterinary medicine by the holder of the limited license; provided,that no limited license shall confer or denote an area of specialty of theholder of this limited veterinary license; and provided further, that unlessotherwise provided by Board rule, the licensing requirements shall be identicalto those specified for a veterinary license.

(5)        "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership,association, joint venture, cooperative or corporation, or any other group orcombination acting in concert; and whether or not acting as a principal,trustee, fiduciary, receiver, or as any kind of legal or personalrepresentative, or as the successor in interest, assignee, agent, factor,servant, employee, director, officer, or any other representative of suchperson.

(6)        "Practice of veterinary medicine" means:

a.         To diagnose, treat, correct, change, relieve, or preventanimal disease, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical or mentalconditions; including the prescription or administration of any drug, medicine,biologic, apparatus, application, anesthetic, or other therapeutic ordiagnostic substance or technique on any animal.

b.         To represent, directly or indirectly, publicly or privately,an ability and willingness to do any act described in sub‑subdivision a.of this subdivision.

c.         To use any title, words, abbreviation, or letters in amanner or under circumstances which induce the belief that the person usingthem is qualified to do any act described in sub‑subdivision a. of thissubdivision.

(7)        "Veterinarian" shall mean a person who hasreceived a doctor's degree in veterinary medicine from an accredited school ofveterinary medicine and who is licensed by the Board to practice veterinarymedicine.

(7a)      "Veterinarian‑client‑patientrelationship" means that:

a.         The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for makingmedical judgments regarding the health of the animal and the need for medicaltreatment, and the client (owner or other caretaker) has agreed to follow theinstruction of the veterinarian.

b.         There is sufficient knowledge of the animal by theveterinarian to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of themedical condition of the animal.  This means that the veterinarian has recentlyseen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal byvirtue of an examination of the animal, or by medically appropriate and timelyvisits to the premises where the animal is kept.

c.         The practicing veterinarian is readily available or providesfor follow‑up in case of adverse reactions or failure of the regimen oftherapy.

(7b)      "Veterinary license" or "license" means alicense to practice veterinary medicine issued by the Board.

(8)        "Veterinary medicine" includes veterinary surgery,obstetrics, dentistry, and all other branches or specialties of veterinarymedicine.

(9)        "Veterinary student intern" means a person who isenrolled in an accredited veterinary college, has satisfactorily completed thethird year of veterinary college education, and is registered with the Board asa veterinary student intern.

(10)      "Veterinary student preceptee" means a person whois pursuing a doctorate degree in an accredited school of veterinary medicinethat has a preceptor or extern program, has completed the academic requirementsof that program, and is registered with the Board as a veterinary studentpreceptee.

(11)      "Veterinary technician" means either of thefollowing persons:

a.         A person who has successfully completed a post‑highschool course in the care and treatment of animals that conforms to thestandards required for accreditation by the American Veterinary MedicalAssociation and who is registered with the Board as a veterinary technician.

b.         A person who holds a degree in veterinary medicine from acollege of veterinary medicine recognized by the Board for licensure ofveterinarians and who is registered with the Board as a veterinary technician. (1961, c. 353, s. 2; 1973, c. 1106, s. 1; 1993, c. 500s. 1.)