VETERINARY TREATMENT
House Bill 4807
Sponsor: Rep. Gerald Law
Committee: Family and Civil Law
Complete to 10-13-99
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4807 AS INTRODUCED 6-17-99
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to provide immunity from civil damages for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. More specifically, a veterinarian or veterinary technician would not be liable for the injury or death of an animal that resulted from his or her treatment of the animal nor would he or she be liable for euthanizing a seriously injured or seriously ill animal if the animal was brought in by someone other than the owner and the veterinarian or veterinary technician either did not know who owned the animal or was unable to reach the owner before a treatment decision had to be made. The immunity provided under these circumstances would not apply to an action or omission that amounted to gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct in providing treatment for the animal.
In addition, a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician who, in good faith, reported an animal that he or she knew or reasonably believed was abandoned, neglected, or abused to a peace officer, an animal control officer, or an officer of a private organization devoted to the humane treatment of animals would be immune from liability for making the report.
MCL 333.18826 and MCL 333.18827
Analyst: W. Flory