Last summer California joined other states in temporarily allowing virtual vet visits via phone or videoconference—but only if the pet was already a patient. On May 3 the San Francisco SPCA filed a federal lawsuit challenging restrictions on veterinary telemedicine and aiming to make it possible post-pandemic.
The lawsuit argues that current limits on telemedicine restrict veterinarians and pet owners’ constitutional right to free speech, as well as a pet’s access to veterinary care.
“People can use telemedicine for themselves and their children, so why not for their pets?” asked Brandy Kuentzel, General Counsel at the San Francisco SPCA. “Telemedicine can be a vital tool to improve the lives of pets and the people who love them.”
Read the full press release below.
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