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HomeBusiness and Professions CodeDiv. 2Ch. 11Art. 3.5§ 4871 Veterinarian Wellness Record Confidentiality

§ 4871 Veterinarian Wellness Record Confidentiality

Business and Professions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 4871 Veterinarian Wellness Record Confidentiality

Key Takeaways

  • •If a vet or vet tech finishes a wellness program and is considered 'rehabilitated,' all their records from the program are deleted.
  • •All records about a vet or vet tech in the wellness program are kept secret and cannot be used in court or given out.
  • •This law is about keeping personal struggles private and giving people a fresh start after they get help.

Example

A vet has a problem with alcohol and joins a wellness program to get help.

If the vet finishes the program and the committee says they are better, all records about their time in the program are destroyed. No one can dig up those records later, even in a court case.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 4871 Veterinarian Wellness Record Confidentiality

(a) After a wellness evaluation committee in its discretion has determined that a veterinarian or registered veterinary technician has been rehabilitated and the wellness program is completed, the wellness evaluation committee shall purge and destroy all records pertaining to the veterinarian’s or registered veterinary technician’s participation in a wellness program. (b) All board and wellness evaluation committee records and records of proceedings pertaining to the treatment of a veterinarian or registered veterinary technician in a program shall be kept confidential and are not subject to discovery or subpoena. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 631, Sec. 34. (AB 1535) Effective January 1, 2022.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

treatmentsubpoenadiscoveryevaluationtheir participationdiscretion

Related Statutes

  • § 4868 Veterinary Wellness Program Oversight
  • § 4870 Veterinarian Wellness Program Compliance
  • § 4857 Veterinary Patient Confidentiality Rules
  • § 4860 Veterinarian Impairment Rehabilitation Program
  • § 4861 Wellness Evaluation Committees

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Business and Professions Code. Section 4871.
View Official Source