Terms Used In Tennessee Code > Title 63 > Chapter 12 - Tennessee Veterinary Practice Act

• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• agency: means the person or entity that provides child care, regardless of whether such person or entity is licensed. See Tennessee Code 37-5-501
• Agriculture: means :
  (i) The land, buildings and machinery used in the commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
• Animal: means any animal other than man and includes fowl, birds, reptiles and fish, wild or domestic, living or dead. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Animal massage therapy: means the manipulation of the soft tissues of the animal body with the intention of positively affecting the health and well-being of the animal. See Tennessee Code 63-12-201
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Board: means the board of veterinary medical examiners. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Certified animal control agency: means a county or municipal animal shelter, dog pound or animal control agency, private humane society, state, county or municipal law enforcement agency, or any combination thereof, that temporarily houses stray, unwanted or injured animals and that is certified pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Certified animal euthanasia technician: means a person employed by a certified animal control agency who is authorized by the board to humanely euthanize animals by administering such drugs as are designated by the board for such use. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Child: means :
  (i) A person under eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 37-5-103
• Child care: means the provision of supervision, protection and the basic needs of a child for twenty-four (24) hours a day including the provision of such temporary services to a child awaiting placement in permanent care. See Tennessee Code 37-5-501
• child care agency: includes "child abuse agency" "child caring institution" "child placing agency" "detention center" "family boarding home or foster home" "group care home" "maternity home" or "temporary holding resource" as defined in subsection (b). See Tennessee Code 37-5-501
• children: means a person or persons under eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 37-5-501
• Code: includes the Tennessee Code and all amendments and revisions to the code and all additions and supplements to the code. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Commissioner: means the commissioner of children's services. See Tennessee Code 37-5-501
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Consultation: means when a licensed veterinarian receives advice in person, telephonically, electronically, or by any other method of communication, from a veterinarian licensed in this or any other state, or other person whose expertise, in the opinion of the licensed veterinarian, would benefit a patient. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Department: means the department of children's services. See Tennessee Code 37-5-501
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• License: means any permit, approval, registration or certificate issued by the board. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Licensed veterinarian: means a person who is validly and currently licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Licensed veterinary technician: means a person who has successfully completed the examination requirements prescribed by the board and has been issued a license. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Livestock: means all equine as well as animals that are being raised primarily for use as food or fiber for human utilization or consumption including, but not limited to, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and poultry. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Month: means a calendar month. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Practice of veterinary medicine: means to:
  (i) Diagnose, treat, correct, change, alleviate, or prevent animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical, dental, or mental conditions by any method or mode, including:

  (a) The prescription, dispensing, administration or application of any drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, anesthetic, or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance or medical or surgical, including cosmetic, technique. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
• Preceptor: means a person who is a last year student duly enrolled and in good standing in a recognized college of veterinary medicine. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
• Representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Residential child care: means the provision of supervision or protection, and meeting the basic needs of a child for twenty-four (24) hours per day. See Tennessee Code 37-5-501
• School of veterinary medicine: means any veterinary school or college, department of a university or college, legally organized, whose course of study in the art and science of veterinary medicine conforms to the standards required for accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association and approved by the board. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Temporary license: means temporary permission to practice veterinary medicine issued pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Uphold: The decision of an appellate court not to reverse a lower court decision.
• Veterinarian: means a person who has received a doctor of veterinary medicine degree or its equivalent from an approved school or college of veterinary medicine. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Veterinarian-client-patient relationship: means :
  (A) The veterinarian has assumed responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding the health of the animal and the need for medical treatment, has obtained informed consent, and the client has agreed to follow the veterinarian's instructions. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Veterinary facility: means a building, place, or mobile unit from which the practice of veterinary medicine is conducted. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Veterinary medicine: includes veterinary surgery, obstetrics, dentistry and all other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Veterinary technician: means a person who is a graduate of a veterinary technology program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
• Writ of certiorari: An order issued by the Supreme Court directing the lower court to transmit records for a case for which it will hear on appeal.
• written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
• Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105