(a) Definition. For the purpose of this rule, holistic
medicine means: the practice of veterinary medicine that believes
in a blend of alternative and, if need be, conventional approaches
of treatment in an effort to develop a system of complementary medicine
to treat the whole patient. In practice, it incorporates less conventional
methods such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy,
and applied kinesiology, with more conventional methods, such as modern
drugs, surgery and diagnostics. Use of holistic medicine in non-human
animals is considered to be an alternate therapy in the practice of
veterinary medicine.
(b) Use of holistic medicine in the treatment of animals.
Only licensed veterinarians may use holistic medicine in the medical
treatment of animals. No veterinarian may allow a non-veterinarian
employee or other agent to perform holistic medicine in the treatment
of an animal patient.
(c) Client Consent Required. Before holistic medicine
may be used in the treatment of an animal, the veterinarian must obtain
a signed statement from the animal's owner or caretaker acknowledging
that holistic medicine is an alternate therapy in veterinary medicine
and approving its use in the treatment of the animal. Before signing
the statement, the veterinarian shall inform the client of the conventional
treatments available and their probable ability to cure the problem.
The signed statement shall become a permanent part of the patient's
record.
(d) Standard Used in Determining Appropriate Use of
Holistic Medicine. If the Board receives a complaint against a licensee
about treatment involving the use of holistic medicine, investigation
of the complaint may include opinions from other licensees who use
holistic medicine in their treatment of animals. However, veterinarians
who practice holistic medicine shall exercise the same degree of humane
care, skill, and diligence in treating patients as are ordinarily
used in the same or similar circumstances by average members of the
veterinary medical profession in good standing in the locality or
community, or in similar localities or communities, in which they
practice.
(e) Other Board Rules Not Preempted. Nothing in this
rule shall remove or limit in any way the applicability of other rules
of the Board as they apply to the practice of veterinary medicine.
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