38-3330. Disclosure of information; restrictions.

(1) Unless required by any state or local law for contagious or infectious disease reporting or other public health and safety purpose, no veterinarian licensed under the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act shall be required to disclose any information concerning the veterinarian's care of an animal except under a written authorization or other waiver by the veterinarian's client or pursuant to a court order or a subpoena. A veterinarian who releases information under a written authorization or other waiver by the client or pursuant to a court order or a subpoena is not liable to the client or any other person.

(2) The privilege provided by this section is waived to the extent that the veterinarian's client or the owner of the animal places the veterinarian's care and treatment of the animal or the nature and extent of injuries to the animal at issue in any civil or criminal proceeding.

(3) The privilege provided by this section is waived to the extent and for purposes of notifying any owner or manager of cattle that have a significant risk for exposure to bovine trichomoniasis. A veterinarian who releases information about the risk for exposure to bovine trichomoniasis is not liable to the client or any other person.

(4) For purposes of this section, veterinarian includes the employees or agents of the licensed veterinarian while acting for or on behalf of such veterinarian.

Source:Laws 2000, LB 833, § 5; R.S.1943, (2003), § 71-1,164; Laws 2007, LB463, § 1112; Laws 2013, LB423, § 3.