Section 43-50-54. Supervision required; prohibited activities of technician

   (a) Any veterinary technician must at all times be under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian whenever practicing veterinary technology in this state. The level of supervision shall be consistent with the delegated animal health care task. Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of Code Section 43-50-51, a licensed veterinarian may in his or her discretion delegate any animal health care task to a veterinary technician; provided, however, that the board may establish by rules or regulations, in such general or specific terms as it deems necessary and appropriate for purposes of this part, the level of supervision, whether direct supervision, immediate supervision, or indirect supervision, that is required by the licensed veterinarian for any delegated animal health care task to be performed by a veterinary technician. Such rules or regulations may require lower levels of supervision for veterinary technicians as compared to veterinary assistants performing the same or similar animal health care tasks.

(b) Specifically and without limitation, the board may take disciplinary action against a veterinary technician if the technician:

   (1) Solicits patients from a licensed veterinarian;

   (2) Solicits or receives any form of compensation from any person for veterinary services rendered other than from the licensed veterinarian or corporation under whom the veterinary technician is employed;

   (3) Willfully or negligently divulges a professional confidence or discusses a licensed veterinarian's diagnosis or treatment without the express permission of the licensed veterinarian; or

   (4) Demonstrates a manifest incapability or incompetence to perform as a veterinary technician.

(c) A veterinary technician shall not be utilized in any manner which would be in violation of this article.

(d) A veterinary technician shall not be utilized to perform the duties of a pharmacist licensed under Chapter 4 of Title 26.

Code 1981, § 43-50-54, enacted by Ga. L. 1983, p. 705, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 81, § 43; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1706, § 19; Ga. L. 2003, p. 615, § 1-1; Ga. L. 2006, p. 30, § 3/HB 999.