Bitten by dolphin, initial encounter

This code indicates an injury sustained from a dolphin bite. It specifically denotes the initial presentation for treatment of such an injury, which could range from minor abrasions to more significant puncture wounds or lacerations.

Apply this code when a patient presents for the first time with an injury directly resulting from a dolphin biting them. This would include emergency department visits, urgent care, or initial physician office visits following the incident.

• Always assign an external cause code (V00-Y99) in conjunction with this code to fully describe the circumstances of the injury.
• Do not use for subsequent encounters or sequelae; specific codes exist for those situations.
• Ensure documentation clearly states the injury was caused by a dolphin bite, not another marine animal.