Veterinary malpractice

alenax

Long story short, my mum took our cat to the vet for a simple (but expensive!!!) operation and when they came back to pick it up, it was dead. The vet admitted that it was their fault because they forgot to give it something to wake it up from the anaesthetic.

My mum says taking them to court isn't worth the expenses, and no solicitors would take on a pet case but it just seems odd to me that vets can get away with that sort of thing? Surely something can be done?

Fire_Fox

Vets have to be registered same as doctors, seek the advice of their registering body. If the vets have already admitted their error then you may be able to come to an out-of-court settlement.

KVet

Go to the RCVS if you want to make a complaine

lowis

that is such an awful thing to happen, i am so sorry you have lost your pet in this way.

you should definitely complain, this vet (or the person on his staff who was responsible) is obviously not fit to practice if he has done something as simple as forgtten to give an animal something to help it recover from its aneasthetic. he/she could do it again to someone else and their pet.

did you still have to pay for the operation? if so, then you may get this money back if the vet has admitted malpractice.

Fire_Fox

I wouldn't pay for the operation, I'd let the vet explain in the small claims court why they think you owe them money!!

spike7451

I'm so sorry to hear about your pusscat.The only advice I can offer is to point you to the site below,they may be able to help more.
Regards,
Spike

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php

snowman2_2

Sorry to hear about your cat. It is never good to lose a pet, even if they did need a complicated op. Firstly, I would ask your vet for a full explanation in writing. Sometimes complicated operations have an associated risk although you should have been told about that beforehand. It would be odd if they forgot to give an injection to wake up your cat, as they would normally wake up within 30 - 45 mins anyway. There may have been another complication but getting it in writing saves confusion over terms or mis-hearing something. Ask them about the bill, if it was a known risk, they may reduce to cost price as a goodwill or they may waive it but speak to them first before getting solicitors or the RCVS involved. It is always much better to have an amicable discussion, it gets you further and is much quicker. No vet wants to lose a patient and if they are anything like me, they will have had a sleepless night worrying about what they could have done differently. Whether it was a known and informed risk or not, the vet would not have wanted anything bad to happen to your cat so just speak to them first.

BitterAndTwisted

The last thing I would want to do is go in all guns blazing. The practice has already admitted being at fault so I think I can see a lifetime's worth of free veterinary care for a new kitten up there over the horizon.

Hintza

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I think I can see a lifetime's worth of free veterinary care for a new kitten up there over the horizon.

I don't think so!

alenax

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

The last thing I would want to do is go in all guns blazing. The practice has already admitted being at fault so I think I can see a lifetime's worth of free veterinary care for a new kitten up there over the horizon.

To be honest, after what they did, I don't think so! The operation was to get a tooth removed.

Thank you everyone for your replies, I will have a look on the purrsinourhearts website and have a look at RCVS as well.

patchwork_cat

That is appalling. I am surprised though that they admitted error, every anaesthetic carries a risk and I would have thought that a simple terribly sorry, but your cat died under anaethetic would have been a more common response.

You didn't pay for the operation did you? The thing is would compensation bring your cat back? I would complain to the RCVS, though.