(a) In order to ensure that its resources are maximized for the protection of the public, the board shall prioritize its investigative and prosecutorial resources to ensure that veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians representing the greatest threat of harm are identified and disciplined expeditiously. Cases involving any of the following allegations shall be handled on a priority basis, as follows, with the highest priority being given to cases in paragraph (1):
(1) Negligence or incompetence that involves death or serious bodily injury to an animal patient, such that the veterinarian or registered veterinary technician represents a danger to the public.
(2) Cruelty to animals.
(3) A conviction or convictions for a criminal charge or charges or being subject to a felony criminal proceeding without consideration of the outcome of the proceeding.
(4) Practicing veterinary medicine while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
(5) Drug or alcohol abuse by a veterinarian or registered veterinary technician involving death or serious bodily injury to an animal patient or to the public.
(6) Self-prescribing of any dangerous drug, as defined in Section 4022, or any controlled substance, as defined in Section 4021.
(7) Repeated acts of excessive prescribing, furnishing, or administering of controlled substances, as defined in Section 4021, or repeated acts of prescribing, dispensing, or furnishing of controlled substances, as defined in Section 4021, without having first established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship pursuant to Section 2032.1 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.
(8) Extreme departures from minimum sanitary conditions such that there is a threat to an animal patient or the public and animal health and safety, only if the case has already been subject to Section 494 and board action.
(b) The board may prioritize cases involving an allegation of conduct that is not described in subdivision (a). Those cases prioritized shall not be assigned a priority equal to or higher than the priorities established in subdivision (a).
(c) The board shall annually report and make publicly available the number of disciplinary actions that are taken in each priority category specified in subdivisions (a) and (b).
(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 529, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2009.)