{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-58-28-502","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 58-28-502","heading":"Unprofessional conduct.","body":"(1) \"Unprofessional conduct\" includes, in addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-501:\n(a) applying unsanitary methods or procedures in the treatment of any animal, contrary to rules adopted by the board and approved by the division;\n(b) procuring any fee or recompense on the assurance that a manifestly incurable diseased condition of the body of an animal can be permanently cured;\n(c) selling any biologics containing living or dead organisms or products or such organisms, except in a manner which will prevent indiscriminate use of such biologics;\n(d) swearing falsely in any testimony or affidavit, relating to, or in the course of, the practice of veterinary medicine, surgery, or dentistry;\n(e) willful failure to report any dangerous, infectious, or contagious disease, as required by law;\n(f) willful failure to report the results of any medical tests, as required by law, or rule adopted pursuant to law;\n(g) violating Chapter 37, Controlled Substances, or Title 76, Chapter 18, Part 2, Offenses Concerning Controlled Substances;\n(h) delegating to unlicensed assistive personnel:\n(i) a task that violates the standards of the profession or Subsection (2); or\n(ii) the administration of anesthesia or sedation if the delegating veterinarian is not providing direct supervision of the administration; and\n(i) making any unsubstantiated claim of superiority in training or skill as a veterinarian in the performance of professional services.\n(2)\n(a) \"Unprofessional conduct\" does not include the following:\n(i) delegating to a veterinary technologist, while under the indirect supervision of a veterinarian, patient care and treatment that requires a technical understanding of veterinary medicine if written or oral instructions are provided to the technologist by the veterinarian;\n(ii) delegating to a state certified veterinary technician or a veterinary technician, while under the direct or indirect supervision of a veterinarian, patient care and treatment that requires a technical understanding of veterinary medicine if the veterinarian provides written or oral instructions to the state certified veterinary technician;\n(iii) delegating to a veterinary assistant, under the immediate supervision of a licensed veterinarian, tasks that are consistent with the standards and ethics of the profession;\n(iv) delegating to an individual described in Subsection 58-28-307(16), under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, the administration of a sedative drug for teeth floating; or\n(v) discussing the effects of the following on an animal with the owner of an animal:\n(A) a cannabinoid or industrial hemp product, as those terms are defined in Section 4-41-102; or\n(B) THC or medical cannabis, as those terms are defined in Section 26B-4-201.\n(b) The delegation of tasks permitted under Subsections (2)(a)(i) through (iv) does not include:\n(i) diagnosing;\n(ii) prognosing;\n(iii) surgery; or\n(iv) prescribing drugs, medicines, or appliances.\n(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, a veterinarian is not prohibited from engaging in a discussion described in Subsection (2)(a)(v).","path":["Title 58 Occupations and Professions","Chapter 58-28 Veterinary Practice Act","Part 58-28-5 Unlawful and Unprofessional Conduct - Penalties"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title58/Chapter28/58-28-S502.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:33Z","sha256":"ad5f16a473739fc0322a675dbd2bdd1b68b999a2c0f52d1e6ac7d7141329acae","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-58-28-501","next":"us-ut/utah-code-58-28-503"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}