What is a Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship? (VCPR)

A Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship, or VCPR for short, exists when your veterinarian knows your pet well enough to be able to diagnose and treat any medical conditions your animal develops. Your part of the VCPR is allowing your veterinarian to take responsibility for making clinical judgments about your pet's health, asking questions to make sure you understand, and following your veterinarian's instructions. Your veterinarian's part of the VCPR involves making those judgments, accepting the responsibility for providing your pet with medical care, advising you about the benefits and risks of different treatment options, keeping a written record of your pet's medical care, and helping you know how to get emergency care for your pet if the need should arise.
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Q:  How is a VCPR established and maintained?
A:  A VCPR is established only when your veterinarian examines your animal in person every 12 months, or more often as dictated by the age or medical condition of the pet.  If a VCPR is established but your veterinarian does not see your pet at least annually afterward, the VCPR is no longer active. It would be illegal and unethical for a veterinarian to dispense or prescribe medications or recommend any treatment(s) without examining your pet first.

Q:  Why is a VCPR so important?
A:  For one, it's required by law in our state and many others. Two, it's ultimately for your pet's safety and to ensure that veterinary medicine is being practiced in an ethical manner. Your veterinarian needs to be familiar with your animal's medical history so they can provide your animal with safe and effective care. The AVMA's Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics requires a VCPR for a veterinarian to prescribe medication or otherwise treat an animal.
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Q:  How can a VCPR be ended?
A:  You, as the client, can terminate a VCPR at any time by notifying the veterinarian. If your veterinarian chooses to end the VCPR, they will notify you in writing and if your animal has an ongoing illness, provide medical care until you have transitioned to another veterinarian.