Illinois Code § 19.1

§ 19.1.

Authority to dispense drugs in emergency situations. (a) A veterinarian licensed under this Act, in the absence of a traditional veterinarian-client-patient relationship, may dispense up to 5 days worth of non-controlled substance medication or up to 3 days worth of controlled substance medication in an emergency situation if: (1) the pet has a medical condition that has been diagnosed by another licensed veterinarian, who then prescribed medication that, if ceased or skipped, could result in a decline of the pet's condition or could be deleterious to the pet's health; (2) the current veterinarian who prescribed the medication is unavailable to issue a refill within a timely manner or the client is not in reasonable proximity to the initial prescriber to obtain a refill within a timely manner; and (3) the client has evidence and can produce evidence of the ongoing medical need for the prescription, either in the form of the medical records or most recent prescription vial or a phone number or other means in which to reach the current prescriber. (b) The second veterinarian must keep a record containing: (1) the name, address, and contact or phone number of the owner and initial prescriber; (2) the name, age, sex, and breed of the pet in question; (3) the name, strength, and quantity of medication dispensed, along with use instructions; and (4) the medical condition and reason medication is being dispensed. (c) A maximum of 5 days of medication may be dispensed per patient per year. All dispensed medication must be properly labeled and dispensed to the owner. Notification of the dispensing shall be communicated to the initial prescriber by the dispensing veterinarian. (d) A veterinarian shall not be required to dispense medication under this provision. (Source: P.A. 98-339, eff. 12-31-13.)