{"data":{"id":"us-va/18vac150-20-173","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"18VAC150-20-173","heading":"Informed consent for surgery","body":"A. Before surgery is performed, informed consent shall be obtained from the owner and documented in the patient record. Veterinarians shall inform an owner of the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the recommended surgery that a reasonably prudent practitioner in similar practice in Virginia would tell an owner.\n\nB. An exception to the requirement for consent prior to performance of surgery may be made in an emergency situation when a delay in obtaining consent would likely result in imminent harm to the patient.\n\nC. If a veterinary  preceptee  or extern is to perform the surgery, either assisted or unassisted, the informed consent shall include that information. If the surgery is to be performed by a preceptee or extern unassisted by the veterinarian, the written informed consent shall specifically state that information.","path":["Title 18. Professional And Occupational Licensing","Agency 150. Board of Veterinary Medicine","Chapter 20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine","Part IV. Standards of Practice"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency150/chapter20/section173/","current_through":"2026 Regular Session (effective July 1, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:53:15Z","sha256":"65f1edff092458bb4113450f4d03b2c2123d42f15b2c4ff12ce79df3589a584d","source_id":"us-va-vac","stale":false,"prev":"us-va/18vac150-20-172","next":"us-va/18vac150-20-174"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}