Texas Veterinarian Heads to Federal Appellate Court Tomorrow

With One Of First Amendments Most Important Unanswered Questions

The Texas Veterinary Board punished a disabled veterinarian for giving online advice

Professional, online advice question will ultimately head to Supreme Court

Censorship of online advice grows with national expansion of occupational licensing

NEW ORLEANSDoes the First Amendment apply to licensed professionals who give advice over the Internet? That is the question to be presented to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans tomorrow in a high-profile case that pits a veterinarian against the Texas Veterinary Board.

Dr. Ron Hinesa disabled retiree and Texas-licensed veterinarianhad begun to use the Internet in 2002 to help pet owners from across the the world, often in remote locations and often for free. He uses the Internet to remain productive and share his lifetime of wisdom and experience. But in 2012, Dr. Hines stopped because he discovered that he had been on a decade-long crime spree: In Texas, as in a majority of states, it is a crime for a veterinarian to give advice over the Internet without having first physically examined the animal.

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Is Advice Given Over The Internet Free Speech?