Maryland Department of Agriculture

For Consumers:

Can I receive information regarding complaints filed against specific veterinarians?

The Board, in accordance with Maryland's Public Information Act, may only provide information concerning formal disciplinary action taken against a licensee. Formal disciplinary action taken by the Board may include, but is not limited to, the following: censuring, issuing civil penalties, probation, suspension, revocation, or a requirement that the licensee obtain additional education in a particular area of veterinary medicine.

If you wish to learn whether a particular veterinarian has been formally disciplined by the Board, your request must be made in writing to the Board.

Can only my veterinarian sell me medication, or can I have a prescription filled elsewhere?

If a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists, and your veterinarian is willing to dispense a particular medication to you for your pet, upon your request, your veterinarian cannot refuse to provide you a prescription for that medication if you choose to purchase it elsewhere.

My veterinarian will not release a copy of my pet's records to me. Do I have any recourse?

Although records are the property of the veterinary practice for whom the records were made, upon request by a patient's owner, the veterinarian is required to release a copy of an animal's written record to you or a subsequent treatment veterinarian. The veterinarian may require you to pay the reasonable cost of providing the records. If the veterinarian has original, non-written records, such as radiographs, photographs, or electrocardiograms, upon your request, the veterinarian shall release these to a subsequent treating veterinarian. These non-written records shall be returned to the original veterinarian within 30 days of their receipt, or until such time as agreed to by the parties.