Confidentiality

This is a summary of Indiana statutory and regulatory provisions that American Veterinary Medical Association(AVMA) research has found addressing the release of veterinary records:
For other states, please refer to: https://www.avma.org/Advocacy/StateAndLocal/Pages/sr-confidentiality-patient-records.aspx

An animal’s veterinary medical record and medical condition is confidential and may not be furnished to or discussed with any person other than the client or other veterinarians involved in the care or treatment of the animal without written authorization of the client with the following exceptions:

An animal’s veterinary medical records and medical condition must be furnished within five (5) business days without written client authorization under the following circumstances:

Access to the records is specifically required by a state or federal statute.
An order by a court with jurisdiction in a civil or criminal action upon the court’s issuance of a subpoena and notice to the client or the client’s legal representative.
As part of an inspection or investigation conducted by the board or an agent of the board.
As part of a request from a regulatory or health authority, physician, or veterinarian:
1. to verify a rabies vaccination of an animal; or
2. to investigate a threat to human or animal health, or for the protection of animal or public health and welfare.
As a part of an animal cruelty report and associated applicable records that are part of an abuse investigation by law enforcement or a governmental agency.
To a law enforcement agency as part of a criminal investigation.

An animal’s veterinary medical records and medical condition may be furnished without written client authorization under the following circumstances:

To the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue
University, the animal disease diagnostic laboratory, or a state agency or commission. However, an animal’s veterinary medical records remain confidential unless the information is disclosed in a manner allowed under this section.
Veterinary medical records that are released by the board of animal health when in the judgment of the state veterinarian the disclosure is necessary or helpful in advancing animal health or protecting public health.
For statistical and scientific research, if the information is abstracted in a way as to protect the identity of the animal and the client.