See item no. 4 below. Per changes to the Veterinary Administrative Rules there is now a law that governs the data contained in and maintenance of records at a veterinary clinic: R338.4921 Medical records; requirements. Rule 21.
A veterinarian who practices veterinary medicine in Michigan shall maintain a medical record for each patient that accurately reflects the veterinarian’s evaluation and treatment of the patient. Entries in the patient record shall be made in a timely fashion. The patient record shall contain documentation of a valid veterinarian-patient-client relationship.
A record shall be maintained on either a herd or flock, or an individual patient. Records shall be legible and shall be retrievable. A record shall be maintained in either a written, electronic, audio, or photographic format.
A record for an individual patient, group, herd, or flock shall document all of the following:
Based on the statute of limitations for bringing certain claims against veterinarians, other general record guidelines include professional malpractice (2 years), negligence (3 years), property damage (3 years) and breach of contract (6 years).
There is no law regarding this subject in Michigan. While the records do belong to the veterinary practice, ethically the veterinarian should provide the client a copy or summary of the medical records when requested. The AVMA’s Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics states as follows on the topic of medical records:
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has the best information.
Sharps are part of the medical waste that is regulated by the State of Michigan. They include needles, scalpels, syringes and IV tubing with needles attached, and those parts of a syringe, with or without an attached needle, that are contaminated with an infectious agent.
The State of Michigan has provided several documents to help get you started:
The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development's rules entitled "Bodies of Dead Animals" for on farm composting were approved with the Great Seal on September 26, 2007. The rules provide for composting of dead animals and animal tissue within a structure, in open piles, windrows, and contained vessels. These additional alternatives for disposal of dead animals will assist producers who have no rendering services, licensed landfills that accept dead animals, or soil types for proper burial. Learn More Here