(1)
A veterinarian must not delegate:
(a) To any
licensed veterinary technician the performance of any animal health care
services not authorized by WAC
246-935-040 or
246-935-050.
(b) To any unregistered assistant the
performance of any animal health care services not authorized by WAC
246-935-040 or
246-935-050.
(2) The supervising veterinarian shall:
(a) Have legal responsibility for the health,
safety and welfare of the animal patient which the licensed veterinary
technician or unregistered assistant serves.
(b) Delegate animal health care tasks only if
the licensed veterinary technician or unregistered assistant is qualified to
perform the task, and the task is not precluded by the medical condition of the
animal patient.
(c) Use the level
of supervision required for a specific task.
(d) Make all decisions relating to the
diagnosis, treatment, management, and future disposition of an animal
patient.
(e) Limit the number of
unregistered assistants under indirect supervision to that which is appropriate
for the circumstances.
(f) Allow
licensed veterinary technicians and unregistered assistants the right and
responsibility to refuse to perform duties they are not legally or technically
able to perform.
(3) A
supervising veterinarian shall examine the animal patient prior to the
delegation of any animal health care task to either a licensed veterinary
technician or unregistered assistant. The examination of the animal patient
must be conducted at the times and in the manner consistent with veterinary
medicine practice, and the particular delegated animal health care
task.
(4) If a licensed veterinary
technician is authorized to provide supervision for an unregistered assistant
performing a specified health care task, the licensed veterinary technician
shall be under the same degree of supervision by the veterinarian, as if the
licensed veterinary technician were performing the task.
