Speaker Biography

Don Riddick

Esq.

Don Riddick

General Counsel, Georgia Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA)

Don Riddick uniquely bridges the worlds of clinical veterinary practice, law, and emerging technology. As an attorney with over 25 years of experience and the General Counsel for the GVMA, Don brings a highly practical, veterinary positive approach to the legal landscape of veterinary medicine.

Don’s deep roots in the veterinary profession began as a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) in Georgia. He later spent 12 years as the co-owner and Practice Manager of a veterinary hospital in Columbus, GA, giving him firsthand knowledge of the daily realities, workflows, and regulatory challenges that clinical teams face. He continues his hands-on connection to the animal world as the co-owner of Coverland Farms in West Point, GA.

In his legal career, Don has specialized in navigating the complex intersection of law and cutting-edge technologies. His background includes serving as Chief Legal Officer for a global tech company, where he aligned artificial intelligence technologies with evolving legal frameworks. In the veterinary space, Don is the co-chair of the AVMA’s Emerging Technologies Task Force (which is focused on AI) and a drafter of one of the first State VMA AI policies, and highly sought-after speaker continuing education sessions, a published author on veterinary law, and a former officer of the Animal Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia.

Currently, Don consults with veterinarians across the Southeast, translating complex legal and technological requirements into actionable, practical advice. For this Auburn Conference session, he combines his decades in law and practice management to help veterinary professionals safely and effectively integrate AI into their hospitals while maintaining absolute legal and operational integrity. And perhaps most importantly, he married an Auburn Vet School Grad… War Eagle!

Lectures

  • Thursday, October 29, 2026 9:00 - 9:50 a.m. Legacy

    Navigating AI responsibility and liability under your practice regulations Small Animal II

    Brief Description: As artificial intelligence rapidly enters the veterinary clinic, the legal landscape surrounding medical records and standard of care is shifting. This session defines the legal boundaries and malpractice risks of utilizing AI in veterinary medicine under current Practice Acts. We will explore the phenomenon of AI “hallucinations,” establish the legal standard for medical record documentation, and define the critical line between utilizing AI as an authorized administrative scribe versus an unauthorized diagnostic tool.

    Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

    • Identify the legal liabilities associated with AI-generated medical records and AI “hallucinations.”
    • Differentiate between authorized administrative AI use and unauthorized, un-licensed diagnostic AI use.
    • Determine the assignment of liability (e.g., the “Captain of the Ship” doctrine) when AI-generated errors occur, such as incorrect medication dosages in clinical notes.
    • Apply strict interpretations of state Practice Acts to categorize and restrict AI tools to administrative functions, mitigating malpractice risk.
  • Thursday, October 29, 2026 10:00 - 10:50 a.m. Legacy

    Safe, Secure, and Auditable: Ethical Workflows and Data Privacy in the AI Era Small Animal II

    Brief Description: Building on the legal framework from Hour 1, this session provides actionable strategies for ethically leveraging AI without compromising legal compliance, patient safety, or client confidentiality. Practitioners will learn the massive data privacy liabilities associated with typing client data into public, free AI models. We will review real-world examples to help teams implement secure, auditable workflows and medical record approaches that protect the practice while maximizing technological leverage.

    Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

    • Formulate ethical guidelines and operational frameworks for safe AI adoption within a veterinary practice.
    • Implement compliance safeguards and practical audit steps for verifying AI outputs, such as SOAP notes and discharge summaries, before finalizing records.
    • Identify the data privacy risks and legal liabilities inherent in using free, open-source AI platforms with confidential client data.
    • Recognize and prevent staff workflows that inadvertently leak protected veterinary data, ensuring strict adherence to data security standards.