Steps to take regarding a Vet misdiagnoses

[acesmom79]

Originally Posted by jp4m2

I was addressing the issue of the monetary compensation and as to why some people will try to find justice when a pet dies, when maybe it shouldn't have. My post was also for anyone who be reading this and wonders, why bother, it won't bring the pet back? Since the pet is irreplaceable monetary compensation as all we can ask for, and it helps hold the vet accountable. If I could get my pet back that would be my desired outcome, but that is not possible, so monetary compensation is what the courts allow....I also hope when a vet is served it will make them more conscientious in their practice so others won't suffer the same unnecessary/unexpected loss.

I agree. I am going to do everything I can to try and make this Vet held accountable. I am going to file a complaint, and go to the magistrate. I am also looking into different laws to address Vet negligence. I would rather not have this happen to another pet than get any monetary compensation back. By doing everything I can legally, it's going to make her think twice when there is another sick pet in her office. Maybe she will look at everything and be a better Vet. I just want this vet to acknowledge that she did misdiagnose my Ace.
Some of us on this thread have been through the ringer and really only need positive comments. I realized Ace at a hairball, and I should've immediately rushed him to ER to have surgery, but I didn't know he ate that. He had stopped vomiting later in the day and was holding down fluids. He was running up stairs and even jumping, although he still wasn't eating, I just thought it was a small stomach thing, that he sometimes got from eating his own poo, (yes, he occasionally did that). I love my baby with all me heart and wish I could go back in time to save him. But I can't. I take one day at a time. I feel like I've been cheated and if I could take any pain or discomfort that he experienced and instead experience it myself, I would. He was the best thing in my life, now he's gone.

[jp4m2]

Originally Posted by backwardsrain

Can you talk to the vet who correctly diagnosed him and did the surgery and see what their professional opinion is? For example, they may say "that's a normal mistake for a vet to make, it happens and there's nothing we can do" OR they may say "that vet was incompetent, any vet would have palpated the abdomen".

Since that second vet is your only witness to what happened, their professional opinion would go a long way toward determining what you can do about reporting/suing that first vet, IMO.

I wish it were that easy but after having experienced this myself I have found some things are a bit more complicated when it comes to finding a vet who will do as your describing. Vets have a "code of professional conduct" that prohibits them from saying anything negative about anothers conduct. It states something like this: Veterinarians must avoid slandering another professional or otherwise damaging other professionals' reputations. Professionals must work with other professionals to increase knowledge and improve skills.

I was also told that another vet will not want to say the first vet did any wrong because he will run the risk of becoming involved in the lawsuit which also may involve him being sued himself for slander. I don't see a second vet wanting to get involved in a situation like this.This is a part of why it's difficult to sue.

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by acesmom79

I agree. I am going to do everything I can to try and make this Vet held accountable. I am going to file a complaint, and go to the magistrate. I am also looking into different laws to address Vet negligence. I would rather not have this happen to another pet than get any monetary compensation back. By doing everything I can legally, it's going to make her think twice when there is another sick pet in her office. Maybe she will look at everything and be a better Vet. I just want this vet to acknowledge that she did misdiagnose my Ace.
Some of us on this thread have been through the ringer and really only need positive comments. I realized Ace at a hairball, and I should've immediately rushed him to ER to have surgery, but I didn't know he ate that. He had stopped vomiting later in the day and was holding down fluids. He was running up stairs and even jumping, although he still wasn't eating, I just thought it was a small stomach thing, that he sometimes got from eating his own poo, (yes, he occasionally did that). I love my baby with all me heart and wish I could go back in time to save him. But I can't. I take one day at a time. I feel like I've been cheated and if I could take any pain or discomfort that he experienced and instead experience it myself, I would. He was the best thing in my life, now he's gone.

I know you will do your best to to what you can to prevent this from happening again. As I said tiny dogs cannot compensate like a larger dog can and that vet should have known better. You did what you could with what you could see. The thing with our furry babies is that they cannot talk. If only they could. Wouldn't it make things so much simpler? There is no way you could have known what was in his stomach or what was ahead. There is nothing you can do about that now but hopefully you can can help others by taking it to court or writing letters. Just don't blame yourself. You were not the professional in this situation.

[Lollipopcorner]

Originally Posted by acesmom79

Excuse you, but I don't know where you get off saying that to me?! You have no idea what you are talking about, and don't know the story!
I rushed my baby to the closest vet I could find because of his situation! The Vet checked him for what they thought was a severe stomach virus and in addition took an xray. I trusted a professional and their opinion, because they are the Vet. I was fine with their treatment of my baby at first because I thought they had diagnosed his problem and were treating him accordingly to get better. Never in my dreams did I know that he had an obstruction, until the first vet said he was not responding to antibiotics, and clearly something else is wrong, and then we immediately rushed him to ER. How would I know, I'm not a professional.
I didn't have a problem with first Vet until after I took him to ER, and they said he had to have surgery for his obstruction. I'm claiming my first vet was negligent after we Had to take him 30 miles away to the ER and they diagnosed him with a clear obstruction. I don't know how to read an xray!
I strongly suggest before you write on a forum you check your facts. That's like saying to a human, you stayed with your doctor even though you were misdiagnosed and he treated for something else, you should've known better! That's why there is medical malpractice suits for things like this. I know animals, sadly, have less rights, so these negligence suits don't happen like that for them.
Don't ever post on one of my threads again. And I really hope you're never in a situation where someone you love is misdiagnosed by a professional and some person says something ignorant to you! Oh, and you're right, you are the bad guy. Get a life!

In that case I would like to apologize. Apparently I totally misunderstood your original post. I am very sorry for the loss of you beloved pet. Again, I apparently misunderstood the situation.

[acesmom79]

Originally Posted by jp4m2

I wish it were that easy but after having experienced this myself I have found some things are a bit more complicated when it comes to finding a vet who will do as your describing. Vets have a "code of professional conduct" that prohibits them from saying anything negative about anothers conduct. It states something like this: Veterinarians must avoid slandering another professional or otherwise damaging other professionals' reputations. Professionals must work with other professionals to increase knowledge and improve skills.

I was also told that another vet will not want to say the first vet did any wrong because he will run the risk of becoming involved in the lawsuit which also may involve him being sued himself for slander. I don't see a second vet wanting to get involved in a situation like this.This is a part of why it's difficult to sue.

I don't plant to get a lawyer. I'm going to small claims court to get back the money for the unnecessary treatment he received from them. I already talked to the ER Vet and they said they have different protocol when dealing with sick animals. There was no bad mouthing or anything and that is all she said. I'm also filing a complaint with our state Vet board.

[acesmom79]

Originally Posted by gracielove

The OP did the very best she could do under the circumstances. You cannot force a vet or any doctor to do what you think is best. She was forced to leave the dog at that particular time since there were no other options at the time. It is not an easy thing to lose a loved one due to the negligence of the very person you sought out for help. Anything she can do to make sure this doesn't happen again is good for her and for others that may meet with an emergency in the future. I would not be so sure that she would lose either.

Unfortunately, when I took him to the first vet I didn't know what was best for Ace or what to think, I just thought the vet would know what was best.

[yorkietalkjilly]

At the prices most vets charge, one would think they could manage somehow to afford one of these units - even a certified secondhand one - and take the course to learn to use it. I would sure rather my dog be scoped first than just arbritrarily opened up when wondering what might be going on in the belly - and open him up only if the scope couldn't locate or retrieve the object. But being dogs, I guess most vets would just open them up if they suspect an obstruction. After all, they are just "property".

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by acesmom79

Unfortunately, when I took him to the first vet I didn't know what was best for Ace or what to think, I just thought the vet would know what was best.

That is the really sad part. We do expect the doctors to know what they are doing. We entrust our pets to their care and hope they know what they are doing. They are the ones with the medical knowledge and ability to diagnose. You had no idea this particular vet was going to take the situation so causually.