This is from the Michigan Vet medical Association:
4. A client asked me to write a prescription rather than have me dispense the drug out
of my clinic. What are my rights and responsibilities?
There are two
scenarios that are frequently posed. Scenario one is if you are
treating a patient and recommend a medication. A valid Veterinary
Client Patient Relationship (VCPR) exists and you must honor a request
to give a prescription that can be filled by a source other than
yourself.
The second
scenario is when you are approached by a client to provide a
prescription where a valid VCPR does not exist and you were not the
original veterinarian that treated the animal and prescribed the
medication. You have no obligation to provide the medication or a
prescription for the medication if you do not feel that a valid VCPR
exists. If you feel comfortable that enough information is provided
that a VCPR is established you can provide the medication or
prescription but you must feel that a VCPR has been established. If
you do not feel comfortable that a VCPR has been established you should
not provide the medication or prescription.
Ethically - Article III C. of the AVMA Principles of
Veterinary Medical Ethics states that veterinarians should honor a
client's request for a prescription in lieu of dispensing.
Legally - Although not specifically listed under Article 15
section 16221 (a) of the Michigan Public Health Code pertaining to
violations of general duty, failure to comply with a client's request
for a prescription in lieu of dispensing may be considered a violation
of this section.
7. May I charge for authorizing a prescription?
The American
Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) does not have a position on this
subject. According to the Michigan Board of Pharmacy, there are no
regulations preventing a veterinarian from charging a fee for writing a
prescription. In general, veterinarians must charge adequately for
their professional services to cover the costs of maintaining a
veterinary clinic, paying staff, and offering quality medical care to a
client's animal. Some veterinarians have chosen to charge a
prescription issuance fee in those cases when the veterinarian does not
directly dispense the medication to the client. Some have considered
implementing a policy to charge a specified fee, whether a drug is
dispensed or prescribed. Others have reviewed fees and the need for
any adjustments within the context of all services rendered. And still
others charge for their professional services using units of time (e.g.
when reviewing prescription drug authorizations or conducting telephone
consultations with clients).