The Florida Senate

474.2185  Veterinarians consent; handwriting samples; mental or physical examinations.--A veterinarian who accepts a license to practice veterinary medicine in this state shall, by so accepting the license or by making and filing a renewal of licensure to practice in this state, be deemed to have given her or his consent, during a lawful investigation of a complaint or of an application for licensure and when the information has been deemed necessary and relevant to the investigation as determined by the secretary of the department, to the following:

(1)  To render a handwriting sample to an agent of the department and, further, to have waived any objections to its use as evidence against her or him.

(2)  To waive the confidentiality and authorize the preparation and release of medical reports pertaining to the mental or physical condition of the licensee when the department has reason to believe that a violation of this chapter has occurred and when the department issues an order, based on the need for additional information, to produce such medical reports for the time period relevant to the complaint. As used in this section, "medical reports" means a compilation of medical treatment of the licensee which shall include symptoms, diagnosis, treatment prescribed, relevant history, and progress.

(3)  To waive any objection to the admissibility of the reports as constituting privileged communications. Such material maintained by the department is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) until probable cause is found and an administrative complaint is issued.

History.--ss. 14, 16, ch. 85-291; s. 28, ch. 91-140; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 321, ch. 96-406; s. 1117, ch. 97-103.