Vet Negligence?

BlueAngelCV

arcon5 wrote: »

As a side note, since op has no means of payment, I do wonder if it could be classed a fraud or something.

Not being able to afford the bill and not having any means of payment are not quite the same thing and even if they were I think you would be hard pressed to prove fraud.

kazzah60

I would have thought that a competent vet would automatically check the cat for other injuries when it presented with a lacerated foot - the laceration could have been the result of a fall from a height, so really I do feel the vet has some responsibility here

Having had various pets injured over many years, in my experience the vet usually does a check of joints, spine, breathing, etc- if only to rule out more serious injuries - especially with a cat which could easily have been clipped by a car or something

I would have thought that a cat with a broken plevis would be exhibiting some other signs of more severe injury such as rapid breathing, increased heart rate - which should have been picked up with a fairly rudimentary examination

OP - I do think you should make these points calmly with the Practice head - and hopefully they may reduce the costs - and as a gesture of goodwill, maybe they could allow you a payment plan?

my advice would be to be calm and matter of fact about it - you catch more flies with honey than vinegar

hoping Alfie is better soon

Equaliser123

Really not sure I follow why the vet should reduce the bill at all. They didn't break the pelvis. They have missed it previously, but why has that actually caused any losses?

sandyrosie75

Sounds to me as the vet overlooked other injuries which led to complications due to being left untreated
Something similar happened to me (condition went undiagnosed for a couple of years, costing me a fortune on unnecessary meds), I changed vets and it was the best thing I have done

fluffnutter

lincroft1710 wrote: »

I can't see that there is a connection between a lacerated foot and a bladder problem. If the Sat evening vet was presented with a foot injury, I wouldn't expect her to examine the rest of the cat unless there was something blatantly obvious.

I'm in two minds about this. Whilst I'm reluctant to scream 'negligence!' I do think that it's fairly likely that an injured foot in a cat will be the result of being hit by a car (for example). As such I'd expect a vet to carry out a full exam to make sure there aren't any broken bones. I really think a squeeze of the pelvis wouldn't have been too much to ask for.

Hintza makes a valid point about his treatment, but it's different. He was being treated for a diagnosed problem and as such (unless any other symptoms presented) you wouldn't expect the doctors to look at anything else.

However, that wouldn't be the case if you'd come into A&E after an accident. I'd expect a full work-up in that instance. And I think the cat should have had one too.

I'm also shocked that a quick consultation, some antibiotics and some pain relief came to £223! I'd ask for a reduction - seems like completely opportunistic pricing to me.

ALIBOBSY

We had a simular thing with our cat last year when he started limping we checked his leg and realised he must have been fighting.
We took him to the vets on the sat morning. Our vet checked him over completely in case he had other injurys took his temp/listened to his heart and if I remember correctly did some sort of pelvic check as "cats injujuries can often be from an arguement with a car". he confirmed he felt the leg injury was an infected bite and gave him a shot of anti biotics etc.

£40 all in.
Perhaps vets are cheaper in the north lol.

Given the £200 they want for the first appointment I would have expected a full examination for that.
I would say they should at least knock off the costs of examination for the first visit as it wasn't done correctly-obviously the injection was needed and has to be paid for.

It will then be a negotiation with the vets as to how much extra treatment has been incurred because of the mistake.

But I agree with Kazza a calm but firm approach almost like you are negotiating a business deal is the way to go. It still will be a high bill I would imagine, but if they are any kind of decent vets they should meet you half way.

Hope your boy is better soon.

Ali x

Equaliser123

sandyrosie75 wrote: »

Sounds to me as the vet overlooked other injuries which led to complications due to being left untreated

Maybe. Can't see how it could have led to a fractured pelvis though.

CoolHotCold

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

We had a simular thing with our cat last year when he started limping we checked his leg and realised he must have been fighting.
We took him to the vets on the sat morning. Our vet checked him over completely in case he had other injurys took his temp/listened to his heart and if I remember correctly did some sort of pelvic check as "cats injujuries can often be from an arguement with a car". he confirmed he felt the leg injury was an infected bite and gave him a shot of anti biotics etc.

£40 all in.
Perhaps vets are cheaper in the north lol.

Given the £200 they want for the first appointment I would have expected a full examination for that.

This was a emergency visit, so out of hours charges would apply. £200 seems like a fair number for dragging a on call Vet out of bed at midnight.

Mrs_pbradley936

lincroft1710 wrote: »

I can't see that there is a connection between a lacerated foot and a bladder problem. If the Sat evening vet was presented with a foot injury, I wouldn't expect her to examine the rest of the cat unless there was something blatantly obvious.

I would. The cat may have been attacked by a dog, hit by a car or fallen from a height. Since it cannot offer an explanation a thorough examination was called for. It was certainly paid for.

Mrs_pbradley936

If the complications are as a result of the injury being a week old that is not your fault. It is the fault if the original vet. You took the cat to the vet and they failed to see this pelvic injury. Therefore any complications are due to their inattention rather than your tardiness. I would be renegotiating this fee. You owe them something but their actions or lack thereof are contributing factors.