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ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > Has anyone ever filed a complaint with the Veterinarian Medical board/ or Sued a vet? (8 replies)
Has anyone ever filed a complaint with the Veterinarian Medical board/ or Sued a vet? by Bhaugh on 19 May 2012 - 20:07 |
| This is not dog related BUT I took in 6 rabbits to a vet to have them neutered. 3 of the rabbits came back with PERMANENT paralysis. One rabbit had a broken back and is now having other complications from the incision site. The rabbits are being treated by a second vet and I am gathering all the papework to file a complaint. It has occurred to me that the board may not do anything and I want reimbursement from the vet for the HORRIBLE work she did. Im not looking for some huge amount of money but through all of this she has lied over and over and now is sidestepping to provide films she states she took. She did not take the initiave to xray the rabbit herself. I had to request she take films once it was discovered that the rabbit would not regain use of his legs. SO.....would it be advisable to turn her into the board or just file against her malpractice? Again I'm not looking fora huge payout but at least she needs to pay for the care of these buns. Suggestions? |
Bhaugh by Jenni78 on 19 May 2012 - 21:26 |
She can't handle neutering rabbits? Seems she needs to find a new career. Anyone can make a mistake- but 50% are permanently paralyzed?!!!  I would do everything in my power to make sure everyone knows what she did- the board, the BBB, heck...the newspapers might not be a bad idea. Make her realize it's in her best interest to make this right. Poor rabbits. |
Jenni78 by yellowrose of Texas on 19 May 2012 - 22:07 |
| no but one vet here in whitehouse, tex has so many complaints on him the first year I move here , he left town shortly after. I had a woman knock on my door one Sunday morning in tears..SHe picked up her chow at his office saturday morning and the rash on her dog was terrrible.. She found out by that evening the kid who washed the kennels poured the disenfectant on the floor with the dog still in there.. Her dog stunk was sick and had diahrea from it and being I was known in the community as the K9 lady , she came to me for advice. I said file a complaint on him second , wash in a mild solution of salt water(baking soda) and use Corn Starch on his stomach...... since beach is not here. SHe found a new vet on Monday and of course, this was not the first verse of that song. THAT VET , I found out left town about a year later and sold out.. YR |
yellowrose of Texas by Bhaugh on 20 May 2012 - 01:46 |
| So i guess I should ask if vets even have something like malpractice? |
by Jenni78 on 20 May 2012 - 02:44 |
| There is, but it's very difficult to win. I don't see much of a gray area in your complaint, though. I mean....THREE paralyzed rabbits??? |
by hexe on 20 May 2012 - 03:24 |
| I've never had to do so, but yes, Bhaugh, vets do carry malpractice insurance, and chances are that his insurance company will tell him to settle this if you do file a complaint against him--and you SHOULD. Where you may have difficulty is finding another vet who is willing to review the cases and go on record stating that the first vet was negligent and caused the injuries to the rabbits as a result. Even so, I'd STILL urge you to file a complaint with the state veterinary board. And if the hospital is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), I'd lodge a complaint with them as well. Is this a vet who is experienced in treating rabbits, or just one who figured 'Sure, I'll do it--how hard can it be?' Trust when I tell you that in vet school, the students do most of their small animal surgery on dogs and cats--there's very little done with other species unless a student has a special interest in rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. and makes a concerted effort to do an internship in a practice that does such work. Poor bunnies.  |
by EuroShepherd on 20 May 2012 - 04:54 |
In the past I've raised meat rabbits, and in the past I've also worked at vets' offices. Though I've never had one of my rabbits fixed I have seen a number of rabbits neutered and none of them were ever injured. Whoever handled these rabbits clearly didn't know how to hold rabbits or realize how fragile they can be, rabbits simply cannot be handled roughly at all. You should definitely file complaints against this vet and sue them. |
EuroShepherd by Blitzen on 20 May 2012 - 12:07 |
| Pets are considered chattle and the value of a rabbit is probably not going to be very much. I would file with the local vet association and AAHA, assuming this vet is a member, take the story to the local newspaper, and see an attorney; this will draw attention to the incompetence of this vet and may prevent her from doing more harm. Is she the owner of the practice or an associate? The owner will want to know your plans. Most times when things like this happen, the vet settles out of court, there is a gag order issued so you can't talk about it, and the vet continues to practice at the same place or moves on to another city or goes into the military. You need to decide if you want to expose the vet or receive a nice donation for your bunny rescue. I doubt you will be able to get both in a timely manner without spending a lot of your own money. What a sad thing to happen and so preventable. |
Blitzen by Bhaugh on 20 May 2012 - 18:11 |
| Thanks for all the information. I have an appt with the second vet who has been treating the bunny (as the bun was a fellow rescuer's) to see what she has to say. Once this is done I will have all my ducks in a row to move forward. The vet has done rabbits before as this was one of the first questions I had asked. She is a rural vet so accreditation with what was mentioned is probably non existent. I only am seeking reimbursement for the cost to cover expenses of what has already been paid and whatever will be needed to eval the other two rabbits that did not come out of it healthy. My sister had mentioned that the one rabbit who no longer hops but walks around was given too much gas affecting the brain. So Hexe what are the chances that this is why the rabbit is now walking and not hopping? Once my buns are placed, I'm getting out. Such a poor way to end 9 years of rescue! |
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