Maryland § 2-309.1

§ 2-309.1.

    (a)    A veterinary assistant may perform the following tasks under the direct supervision of a veterinary practitioner or veterinary technician under the direct supervision of a veterinary practitioner:

        (1)    Obtaining and monitoring vitals on a nonanesthetized patient;

        (2)    Radiographs;

        (3)    Dental prophylaxis;

        (4)    Nail trims;

        (5)    Educating on basic topics;

        (6)    Administering medications;

        (7)    Husbandry;

        (8)    Collecting blood, urine, and fecal samples;

        (9)    Aseptic techniques;

        (10)    Setup for surgery and other procedures;

        (11)    Low–stress handling and restraint;

        (12)    Microchip insertion; and

        (13)    Any other skill that is noninvasive, as defined by the Board, and within the veterinary assistant’s skills as determined by the supervising veterinary practitioner.

    (b)    A veterinary assistant may perform the following tasks under the immediate supervision of a veterinary practitioner or veterinary technician:

        (1)    Set up of anesthesia; and

        (2)    Anesthesia monitoring.

    (c)    Subject to subsection (e) of this section, a veterinary technician may perform the following procedures under the direct supervision of a veterinary practitioner:

        (1)    Inducing anesthesia by intramuscular injection, inhalation, or intravenous injection;

        (2)    Simple dental extractions of loose teeth that do not involve flaps or tooth sectioning;

        (3)    Basic suturing skills, including:

            (i)    Suturing of existing surgical skin or gingival incisions; and

            (ii)    Suture and staple removal;

        (4)    Accessing a small working stock of Schedule II drugs under separate lock and filling prescriptions;

        (5)    Cytology;

        (6)    Administering vaccines, excluding rabies vaccines unless otherwise authorized by law;

        (7)    Phlebotomy, blood typing, and monitoring blood product transfusion;

        (8)    Urinary and intravenous catheter care;

        (9)    Cystocentesis;

        (10)    Gastric and tracheal intubation;

        (11)    Medication and fluid therapy calculations;

        (12)    Basic life support in cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

        (13)    Ophthalmological testing;

        (14)    Fine needle aspirates; and

        (15)    Any other procedure authorized by regulations adopted by the Board.

    (d)    A veterinary technician may perform a procedure listed under subsection (a)(1) through (13) of this section under the indirect supervision of a veterinary practitioner if the veterinary practitioner determines the veterinary technician is qualified to perform the procedure.

    (e)    A veterinary technician may not:

        (1)    Make any diagnosis or prognosis;

        (2)    Prescribe any treatments, drugs, medications, or appliances; or

        (3)    Perform surgery.

    (f)    Under emergency conditions only, a veterinary technician may perform the following procedures before a veterinary practitioner’s initial examination of an animal:

        (1)    Life support care, including basic and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and

        (2)    Any other procedure authorized by regulations adopted by the Board.

    (g)    (1)    At the discretion of the veterinary practitioner, a veterinary technician employed at an animal emergency hospital, as defined in regulations adopted by the Board, may perform euthanasia on an animal if the animal is unable to be saved by supportive care, first aid, or life support measures.

        (2)    A veterinary technician who works in or for an animal shelter, as defined in § 2–1701 of this title, may perform euthanasia on an animal at the animal shelter.