Expert advises DVMs aiding Gulf Coast disaster to obtain state licenses

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - 9/13/05 - Private practitioners seeking to volunteer in Gulf Coast disaster zones must gain temporary licensure before practicing veterinary medicine, legal adviser Greg Dennis, JD, says.

While the licensing hurdle does not apply to out-of-state DVMs with federal agencies such as Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams, private practitioners who ignore the directive are vulnerable to regulatory action, says Dennis, charter member of the American Veterinary Medical Law Association.

"They need to check with the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to see if they would allow them to come in as private veterinarians performing veterinary services," he says "Unfortunately, most states do not carve out emergency exemptions."