In what conditions can a human pathologis reneder a pathologic diagnosis for animals?
Full Question:
Answer:
We cannot give legal advice, and are not forming an attorney-client relationship with you. The following is not a substitute for the advice of a local attorney. But we hope the information will be useful.
Only a veterinarian would be qualified to render such a diagnosis for an animal. However the human pathologist presumably has some expertise in the field generally. If liability for being wrong is at issue, the human pathologist should preface his/her remarks with "I am not a veterinarian, so please don't rely on my opinion because I could easily be very wrong, but my diagnosis based on abc would be xyz."
If the human pathologist is barred by ethical or other professional rules from rendering opinions on animals, we are not aware of them, but rules of this sort could also be a consideration.
