(1) “Accredited college of veterinary medicine” means any veterinary college, school, or division of a university or college that offers the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or its equivalent and is accredited by the Council of Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (“AVMA”).
(2) “AVMA” means the American Veterinary Medical Association.
(3) “AVMA accredited program in veterinary technology” means any postsecondary educational program that is accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities of the AVMA.
(4) “American Veterinary Medical Association Accredited Program in Veterinary Technology” means any postsecondary educational program that has fulfilled the essential criteria established by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities and approved by the AMVA House of Delegates.
(5) “Animal” means any living organism, other than human, having sensation and the power of voluntary movement and requiring for its existence oxygen and organic nutrients.
(6) “Board” means the Virgin Islands Board of Veterinary Medicine.
(7) “Client” means the patient’s owner, owner’s agent, or other person responsible for the patient.
(8) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Health.
(9) “Consultation” means when a licensed veterinarian receives advice in person, telephonically, or electronically, or by any other method of communication from a veterinarian licensed in this or any other jurisdiction or other person whose expertise, in the opinion of the licensed veterinarian, would benefit the patient. The licensed veterinarian receiving consultation maintains the veterinarian-client-patient-relationship.
(10) “Credentialed veterinary technician or technologist” means a veterinary technician or veterinary technologist who is currently registered, certified, or licensed by the Board.
(11) “ECFVG® certificate” means the certificate issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates® of the AVMA indicating that the holder has demonstrated knowledge and skills equivalent to those possessed by a graduate of an accredited college of veterinary medicine.
(12) “Examination” means a qualifying, territorial licensure test as defined by the regulations governing the practice of veterinary medicine in the Virgin Islands.
(13) “Impaired” means a licensed veterinarian or credentialed veterinary technician who is unable to perform veterinary medicine with reasonable skill and safety because of a physical or mental disability as evidenced by a written determination from a competent authority or written consent based on clinical evidence, including deterioration of mental capacity, loss of motor skills, or abuse of drugs or alcohol of sufficient degree to diminish the person’s ability to deliver competent patient care.
(14) “Licensed veterinarian” means a person who is currently licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the Virgin Islands.
(15) “Owner consent” means the veterinarian has informed the client, in a manner that would be understood by a reasonable person, of the diagnostic and treatment options, risk assessment, and prognosis and has provided the client with an estimate of the fees expected for the provision of veterinary services, and the client has consented to the recommended treatment.
(16) “Patient” means an animal or group of animals examined or treated by a veterinarian.
(17) “Person” means any individual; firm; partnership — general, limited, or limited liability; association; joint venture; cooperative; corporation; limited liability company; or any other group or combination acting in concert; and whether or not acting as a principal, partner, member, trustee, fiduciary, receiver, or as any other kind of legal or personal representative, or as the successor in interest, assignee, agent, factor, servant, employee, director, officer, or any other representative of such person.
(18) “Practice of veterinary medicine” means:
(A) To diagnose, prognose, treat, correct, change, alleviate, or prevent animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical, dental, or mental conditions by any method or mode; including the:
(i) performance of any medical or surgical procedure; or
(ii) prescription, dispensing, administration, or application of any drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, anesthetic, or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance; or
(iii) use of complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies; or
(iv) use of any procedure for reproductive management, including but not limited to the diagnosis or treatment of pregnancy, fertility, sterility, or infertility; or
(v) determination of the health, fitness, or soundness of an animal; or
(vi) rendering of advice or recommendation by any means, including telephonic and other electronic communications with regard to any of the above.
(B) To represent, directly or indirectly, publicly or privately, an ability and willingness to do an act described in subparagraph (A).
(C) To use any title, words, abbreviation, or letters in a manner or under circumstances that induce the belief that the person using them is qualified to do any act described in subparagraph (A).
(19) “Practice of veterinary technology” means:
(A) To perform patient care or other services that require a technical understanding of veterinary medicine on the basis of written or oral instruction of a veterinarian, excluding diagnosing, prognosing, performing surgery, or prescribing.
(B) To represent, directly or indirectly, publicly or privately, an ability and willingness to do an act described in subparagraph (A).
(C) To use any title, words, abbreviation, or letters in a manner or under circumstances that induce the belief that the person using them is qualified to do any act described in subparagraph (A).
(20) “Supervision” includes direct and indirect supervision:
(A) “Direct supervision” means a licensed veterinarian is readily available on the premises where the patient is being treated and has assumed responsibility for the veterinary care given to the patient by a person working under a licensed veterinarian’s direction.
(B) “Indirect supervision” means that a licensed veterinarian is not necessarily on the premises, but has given either written or oral instructions for treatment of the patient and is readily available by telephone or other forms of immediate communication and has assumed responsibility for the veterinary care given to the patient by a person working under the licensed veterinarian’s direction.
(21) “Veterinarian,” means a person who has received a doctor’s degree in veterinary medicine from an accredited school of veterinary medicine and licensed under this chapter.
(22) “Veterinarian-client-patient relationship” means that all of the following are required:
(A) The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making medical judgments regarding the health of the patient and the client has agreed to follow the veterinarian’s instructions;
(B) The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the patient to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the patient. This means that the veterinarian is personally acquainted with the keeping of the patient by a timely examination of the patient or by medically appropriate and timely visits by the veterinarian to the premises where the patient is managed;
(C) The veterinarian is readily available for follow-up evaluation or has arranged for veterinary emergency coverage and continued care and treatment;
(D) The veterinarian provides oversight of treatment, compliance and outcome; and
(E) Patient records are maintained.
(23) “Veterinary assistant” means an employee of a licensed veterinarian who has not received a degree in veterinary technology from an accredited program, or has received a degree in veterinary technology from an accredited program, but is not licensed in the Virgin Islands.
(24) “Veterinary license” or “license” means a license to practice veterinary medicine issued by the Board.
(25) “Veterinary medicine” means the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals, and includes veterinary surgery, obstetrics, dentistry, and all other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine.
(26) “Veterinary prescription drug” means a drug that may not be dispensed without the prescription of a veterinarian and that bears the label statement: “CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.”
(27) “Veterinary specialist” means a veterinarian who has been awarded and maintains certification from an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization.
(28) “Veterinary technician” means a graduate of a two or three-year accredited program in veterinary technology.
(29) “Veterinary technologist” means a graduate of a four-year accredited program in veterinary technology.