You asked for information on the state law that makes confidential Department of Public Health (DPH) investigations involving charges made against veterinarians.

STATE LAW ON INVESTIGATION OF CHARGES AGAINST VETERINARIANS

PA 98-166 broadened the confidentiality of DPH investigations against veterinarians by making the existence of such investigations and the allegations confidential. Under already existing law, the investigation records were already confidential (CGS § 20-204a).

Under the law, the allegations, investigation, and records may remain confidential unless DPH finds probable cause to pursue disciplinary action within 12 months of the complaint or the veterinarian requests their opening (§ 20-204a(c)). If DPH makes a finding of probable cause, the allegation submitted and the entire record of the investigation is deemed a public record (§ 20-204a(d)).

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives considered this legislation (sHB 5593) on April 30, 1998. Representative Anne McDonald, co-chairman of the Public Health Committee, supported the bill, commenting that

“what this bill does is give to veterinarians the same protections that we give to physicians. As the law is presently written, when people have charges against a veterinarian, they report it to the Department of Public Health. The Department has up until a year to decide whether to refer the charges to the Board of Veterinary Medicine. Meanwhile, every time a request is made is whether or not there's a charge against a veterinarian, they are saying yes many times over the telephone. Sometimes it takes the Board many years to resolve the charges. Meanwhile, things are piling up with complaints and they're not processed. Some people are very, very, very emotional about their animals and if the veterinarian gives a shot at the wrong month and they complain and anything that goes wrong with it… Meanwhile the charges are building up and it can really ruin the veterinarian's reputation. ”

(1998 House Proceedings, April 30, 1998, pp. 3225-3226).

The legislation passed unanimously on April 30, 1998 with a technical amendment concerning the veterinarian issue and a number of unrelated amendments involving other public health issues.

Senate

The bill passed the Senate on consent on May 4, 1998.

JK: dw