4920.
(a) (1)In addition to complying with the labeling requirements described in Section 4076 pursuant to Section 4077, in nonemergency situations and outpatient settings, each time a veterinarian prescribes, administers, dispenses, or furnishes a dangerous drug or prescription medicine, as described in Section 4022,
to an animal patient, the veterinarian shall offer to provide the client with counseling and pharmaceutical literature prepared by the pharmaceutical laboratory or a brief handout prepared by the veterinarian. The handout shall be based on accredited professional sources and publications and shall be in the most simple and nonacademic language.
client, or his or her authorized representative, a consultation that includes the following information:(2)The veterinarian or authorized representative shall provide the counseling to the best of his or her ability, knowledge, and availability of
information, but neither the veterinarian nor the authorized representative shall be liable for the veracity and completeness of the information provided in the literature or handout if it is information obtained through a pharmaceutical laboratory or is based on accredited professional sources and publications. For this purpose, the veterinarian or authorized representative shall provide the client with a printed disclaimer explaining the lack of liability for the information in the literature or handout if it is obtained under those circumstances and the client shall sign the disclaimer.
(3)Unless there is a life-threatening warning or a critical update about the drug or medicine, a client may decline to receive the counseling, literature, or handout.
(4)The counseling, literature, and handout shall include all of the following information:
(A)
(1) The name and description of the drug or medicine, what it does, and why it is necessary. medicine.
(B)How and when to give the drug or medicine to the pet or service animal and for how long.
(C)What to do if a dose is missed.
(D)Possible risks and side effects, and what the client should do if they occur.
(2) Details for preparation and administration to the animal patient by the client, or his or her authorized representative.
(3) Route of administration, dosage form, dosage, and duration of drug therapy.
(4) Directions for proper use and storage.
(5) Actions to be taken in the event of a missed dose.
(6) Precautions and relevant warnings provided by the drug’s manufacturer, including common severe adverse effects or interactions that may be encountered and adverse interactions
with other medications, including those available with or without prescriptions.
(E)
(7) An explanation of whether the drug or medicine is standard, long acting, or extended release and the possible additional risks for a long-acting or extended release drug or medicine in case of adverse effects. effects due to prolonged systemic drug or medicine clearance.
(F)Whether the new drug or medicine and the prescribed dosage are appropriate for the pet or service animal’s age, weight, and kidney
and liver function.
(G)Whether the new drug or medicine will work safely with other drugs, medicines, or supplements.
(H)
(8) Foods or activities that should be avoided while giving the drug or medicine.
(9) Drug prescription refill information.
(5)(A)
(b) For injections, the counseling consultation shall be provided before the injection is administered to the pet or service animal. animal patient.
(B)If a long-acting or extended release drug or medicine is to be administered, the client shall also be counseled before the injection about the difference between standard and long-acting or extended release drugs or medicines. This counseling may include, but is not limited to, explaining adverse reactions due to prolonged systemic drug or medicine clearance of long-acting drugs or medicines in such a way
that the client understands that once the animal is injected there is no way to retrieve the drug or medicine.
(6)The literature or handout shall be provided in readable-sized font.
(c) A veterinarian shall provide along with the consultation pharmaceutical literature or written information, when available, if requested by the client, or his or her authorized representative.
(b)At the discretion of the veterinarian, the counseling, literature, or handout may be provided by a
(d) A veterinarian may delegate the task of providing the consultation and literature or written information to a registered veterinary technician or veterinary assistant who is employed by and working under the supervision of the veterinarian. his or her supervision.
(c)(1)The literature or handout may be provided electronically or in any other format using available technology as long as it allows the client to confirm the material was received.
(2)The literature or handout shall be available to clients in English and may also be provided in Spanish and in any other language
appropriate for the veterinary practice.
(3)The literature or handout shall also be provided to clients with special needs or disabilities in an easily accessible format, such as, but not limited to, a large-sized font.
(4)
(e) The counseling consultation may be provided to the client
client, or his or her authorized representative, through a telephone consultation by the veterinarian or his or her authorized representative who has access to the pet or service animal’s animal patient’s record.
(f) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not apply if the client, or his or her authorized representative, declines or refuses the consultation or elects to have a prescription filled at a location other than the registered veterinary premises. If a consultation is not provided, that fact shall be recorded in the client’s
record.
(d)
(g) (1) In every veterinary practice, there shall be prominently posted in a place conspicuous to, and readable by, clients a poster in English, Spanish, and in any other appropriate languages for the veterinary practice notifying clients about all of the information described in subdivision (a). conspicuous location a poster indicating that the consultation specified in subdivisions (a)
and (b) must be offered to the client, or his or her authorized representative. The heading of the poster shall read “NOTICE TO CONSUMERS”. As an alternative to the poster
format, the poster information may also be displayed using a video screen or any other format using available technology.
(2) The poster shall also inform clients about the following consumer rights:
(A) The right to be offered a drug or medicine counseling consultation by the veterinarian or his or her authorized representative.
registered veterinarian technician or veterinary assistant.
(B) The right to know ask for basic pharmaceutical and drug and medicine interaction information.
(C)The right to receive drug and medicine information in readable-sized font.
(D)
(C) The right to have a choice to obtain either the medication or a written prescription and to not be charged for the written prescription as described in Section 2032.2 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.
(3) If the safety or health of any pet or service animal patient is at risk, consistent with Section 4800.1, the board may adopt a regulation requiring additional information to be included on the poster.
(h) This section shall not apply to drugs or medicine administered to animal patients in conjunction with surgery or during an
anesthetic procedure or emergency services.
(i) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as Lizzie’s Law for Veterinary Pharmacy.