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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="2-302.1" title_number="2" title_name="Department of Agriculture" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “veterinary review committee” means a committee or board that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Is within one of the categories described in subsection (b) of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Performs any of the functions listed in subsection (c) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>For purposes of this section, a veterinary review committee is:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A regulatory board or agency that is established by State or federal law to license, certify, or discipline any veterinary practitioner;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A committee of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association or any of its component societies; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Any person who contracts with a veterinary practitioner to perform any of those functions listed in subsection (c) of this section that are limited to the review of services provided by the veterinary practitioner.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>For purposes of this section, a veterinary review committee has the following powers and duties:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>To evaluate and seek to improve the quality of veterinary care that is provided by veterinary practitioners;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>To evaluate the need for and the level of performance of veterinary care that is provided by veterinary practitioners; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>To evaluate and provide assistance to any veterinary practitioner who is in need of treatment and rehabilitation for alcoholism, drug abuse, chemical dependency, or other physical, emotional, or mental condition.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Except as otherwise provided in the section, the proceedings, records, and files of a veterinary review committee are not discoverable and are not admissible in evidence in any civil action arising out of matters that are being reviewed and evaluated by the veterinary review committee.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Subsection (d) of this section does not apply to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A civil action brought by a party who claims to be aggrieved by a decision of the veterinary review committee; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any record or document that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Is considered by a veterinary review committee; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Otherwise would be subject to discovery and introduction into evidence in a civil trial.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>A person who acts in good faith and within the scope of jurisdiction of a veterinary review committee is not civilly liable for:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Any action as a member of the veterinary review committee; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Giving information to, participating in, or contributing to the function of the veterinary review committee.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
