Christopher Lee, DVM, explains Toxoplasma gondii facts: why most indoor cats rarely shed, plus pregnancy-safe litter tips for cat health
|Articles|May 1, 2012
Illinois senator wants pet owner consent for veterinary charges of more than $250
Bill calls for disciplinary action against veterinarians who don't obtain 'express prior authorization.'
Advertisement
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. — Veterinarians in Illinois may have to gain owner consent if costs climb above $250.
Senate Bill 3590, introduced Feb. 10 by Sen. Larry K. Bomke (R-Springfield), calls for disciplinary action against veterinarians under the state's Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act if they charge more than $250 for services without "express prior authorization" from the animal's owner.
Advertisement
In Illinois, disciplinary actions for violating the practice act include refusal by the state veterinary board to issue or renew a veterinary medical license. The board may also revoke or suspend a veterinarian's license, place him or her on probation, reprimand the veterinarian, or levy fines of up to $1,000 for each offense.
A spokesperson for Bomke's office says he introduced the bill in response to a complaint from a constituent, who was surprised by a bill of more than $600 from her veterinarian. The constituent contends that she was dismayed to find out that her dog underwent surgery without her notification after a routine visit. When she picked up the dog, she had to settle up for an unexpectedly large bill.
The proposed legislation has been referred to the Illinois Senate's Assignments Committee.
Advertisement
Related to this article
The latest updates relating to animal care establishments and platforms.
Verdinexor tablets are now available for dogs with lymphoma after receiving full FDA approval earlier this year, offering an at-home treatment option that is given twice weekly and showed a longer time to disease progression than control in a field study.
The first survey of parasite control on bison ranches shows most herds are dewormed on a schedule, with little testing to see whether they need it. Researchers say the habit could make resistance harder to manage.
Preclinical testing at The Ohio State University found Telomir-Zn inhibited growth of canine and human osteosarcoma cell lines, prompting the company to explore a possible in-vivo study in dogs with naturally occurring tumors.
Cheryl Stout, DVM, discusses her path from aspiring conservationist to residency-trained zoo veterinarian, her conservation goals, and her educational work on social media.
Caroline Cox, LSW, MSW, and Erika Krick, VMD, DACVIM (Oncology), discuss the role of veterinary social workers in supporting clients, communicating with veterinary teams, and helping practices address the human side of veterinary care in this Q&A from an interview at the 2026 Fetch National Harbor Veterinary Conference.
After more than 20 years of work toward its first rhino birth, the Texas ranch has now welcomed 3 calves in 3 years.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Trending on dvm360
1
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch welcomes third southern white rhino calf in 3 years
2
A catastrophic miscarriage of justice: The truth about Toxoplasma gondii risk from household cats
3
Bison producers deworm often but rarely test first, survey finds
4
Q&A: Caregiver burden can begin early in pet illness. Are veterinary teams equipped to support clients, and how can veterinary social workers help both parties?
5