Frequently Asked Questions on Compliance
Before filing a complaint, you are strongly advised to carefully read through all of the frequently asked questions below. You will find the Notice of Complaint Forms at the bottom of this page.
What is the Board’s regulatory authority?
The Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine is an occupational licensing agency with administrative regulatory powers over veterinarians (DVMs), registered veterinary technicians (RVTs), and companion animal euthanasia technicians (CAETs) licensed by the Board. Our regulatory authorities are the Veterinary Practice Act (La. R.S. 37:1511 et seq.), the Board Rules as promulgated in the Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC 46:LXXXV) or the AVMA’s Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics, which were adopted by the Board.
Before I hire a veterinarian, I want to know if they have any open investigations on their record. Can I get that information?
No. The Board’s staff is unable to disclose any information about open investigations or any information about previous complaints that were determined to be unjustified. However, if a veterinarian has disciplinary action that was taken against their license, then yes, we can give you a copy of that final decision.
Can/Should I speak to a Board member about a complaint?
No. Individual Board Members SHOULD NOT be contacted directly regarding possible violations of the Louisiana Veterinary Practice Act. A complaint is assigned to an individual sitting board member along with the Board’s Legal Counsel for investigation. It is only during a formal administrative hearing (should an investigation lead to such action) that the full Board serves as the panel to hear evidence and reach a decision. The investigating board member must be recused during the hearing and cannot participate in the deliberation or vote on the outcome. In accordance with LA Revised Statute 49:980.1, speaking to any Board member about a complaint would that member(s) to be forced to recuse himself from the panel, which can significantly delay the final decision-making process and possibly jeopardize the hearing as a whole if there is not a quorum due to the number of recused board members with prior knowledge of the complaint.
Can I submit an complaint anonymously?
Anonymous complaints cannot be accepted against an individual licensee(s) nor can general complaints be accepted against a facility as the Board does not have regulatory authority over facilities. The Louisiana APA (Administrative Procedure Act) requires that the respondent (i.e.- the individual licensed by the Board) be given “due process”, which means the prosecution takes place under a standard of “fundamental fairness”. The primary hallmarks of fundamental fairness are notice of the proceedings, jurisdiction over the person accused and an opportunity to confront the witnesses against you. If the investigating Board member decides that the Board has the evidence and the grounds to take action, and no informal resolution is possible (consent order), then the Board formally prosecutes the claim. At that point the complaint is given to the person accused. The respondent is entitled to know who the witnesses will be, etc.
Can I file a complaint against a veterinary clinic?
No. Complaints cannot be accepted or investigated against a facility/clinic/hospital as a whole, as our agency only has administrative regulatory authority over those individuals licensed by the Board to practice veterinary medicine in the state of Louisiana. As such, any complaint submitted to the Board must be against an individual licensed by the Board and whom you feel were in violation of these specific regulatory authorities OR against someone practicing veterinary medicine without a license.
Can I file a complaint against someone who is not licensed by the Board?
A complaint may be filed against an individual not licensed by the Board and whom you suspect is practicing veterinary medicine in Louisiana without a license issued by the Board. If the complaint is not under our jurisdiction, we may refer the complaint to another agency, or we may close the complaint with no action.
What actions can the Board take against a licensee?
If a complaint results in disciplinary action against the licensee, the action may range from an Informal Reprimand, a formal Letter of Reprimand to Probation [active license but restricted in some manner] to Suspension [inactive license unable to practice] to Revocation [license removed]. In addition, the Board may levy a fine as well as recover its administrative and investigative costs.
The Board does not represent the complainant (person making the complaint) and does not have authority to seek restitution or money damages on behalf of the complainant or any other individual.
How are complaints resolved?
Each complaint is reviewed and evaluated, first to determine if the complaint or allegations involves a person licensed by this Board, and secondly, whether the allegations would be a violation of the Louisiana Veterinary Practice Act and/or Board promulgated Rules. If the complaint is not under our jurisdiction, we may refer the complaint to another agency, or we may close the complaint with no action.
If the complaint is within the jurisdiction of the Board of Veterinary Medicine, the complaint will be assigned to the Board’s legal counsel and a sitting board member for investigation.
The Board of Veterinary Medicine does not have jurisdiction over complaints involving rudeness, customer service, and/or pricing or billing disputes.
How long will it take for my complaint to be resolved?
Due to the existing caseload for the board members, it is difficult to accurately predict the amount of time necessary to investigate and resolve a complaint. The investigation and review process can take several months on average, if not longer. All cases are different; some only require a few months where others could take a year or more. The length varies depending on the amount of time needed to thoroughly investigate and whether there are other state or federal agencies involved.
Will I be informed about the resolution of my complaint?
The Board’s legal counsel and/or administrative office will notify you in writing when the complaint is closed and any final disciplinary action has been taken.
How do I file a complaint with the Board?
You must complete the appropriate complaint form below, then submit it to the Board office with any supplemental documentation by following the instructions on the form. An email or phone call to the Board is NOT sufficient and will not be accepted as submission of a complaint. When submitting a complaint, you are advised to describe your complaint in detail – include facts, dates, and full names of persons involved. Additionally, if you are filing a complaint against a licensee, you MUST provide the license number for the respondent. You can look up all active licensee information in the Online LBVM License Registry.