Veterinary Malpratice?

Jettpack

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Hello all!

I posted a few weeks ago about my kitty Kaluha having a stroke, and after 3 nights in the ICU, almost dying, and 2 weeks of tests, he’s been diagnosed hypertensive. We are still investigating on whether it is primary or secondary but he does have Kidney Disease so he was at high risk.

I asked his primary vet for his records because I wanted to see what his BP has been measured at over the last 2 years since his CKD diagnosis. They didn’t have any record of BP checks.... I got an email last night from his vet tech saying the doctor had been opting out of checking his blood pressure due to his nervous demeanor during visits.

I would have NEVER agreed to this. Him being high risk it was SO important to catch this early. Now he’s dealt with way more stress than a 10 minute BP check every 6 months would have caused him.

I’d also like to mention that I took him back into that same office last week due to him drinking water like crazy since coming home from the ER. The vet shrugged and suggested it was comfort behavior.

2 days later I had to take him to the ER over straining to urinate and he had a major UTI.

I’ve been reading a lot about malpractice because the ER vet and everything I’ve read about CKD states BP checks should be done with their kidney checks every 6 months.

I’ll have spent about $2500 on his treatment due to his stroke and I spent $600 on the ER over the UTI when the other vet shrugged away his symptoms.

What do you all think? I can do small claims or file a claim against their insurance. I’ve done a lot of research on this and I think both situations, most definitely the poor decision to not check BP, fall under Malpractice.
 

JamesCalifornia

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Hi!
I would talk to a lawyer in your situation. They'll be able to tell you a lot more, and an hour of their billable time might really be worth it.
~ I agree ... sadly. As far as I know the state can investigate and put veterinarians on supervision for a period. Pet owners actually having any redress seems unlikely.
 
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Mamanyt1953

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States do investigate these claims, but it is RARE for a vet to get more than a hand-slap and to be "sentenced" to a continuing education program. This is something that pet owners are fighting WORLD WIDE! Vets are not regulated to anywhere NEAR the standards of human practitioners.

You will, sadly, almost certainly not get much satisfaction over this. There are, however, organizations fighting for us. PM me if you would like a link to one of the best I, personally, know of. They may even know of lawyers in your area, or help you find one.
 

LTS3

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Jettpack

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Thank you all for the info, I have a lot to look into. I’ve done a bit of searching and I’ve found a couple lawyers in the area that dabble in Veterinary malpractice. It would be nice to have the ER bills covered, at the very least.

I know it’s unlikely much will come out of the complaint as he is a pretty reputable vet in the area, but it should be on file that this has been done. The reviews of his clinic make them seem so compassionate yet this guy never even returned my calls while Kaluha was in the hospital, or after.

I’m calling a new place tomorrow, a cat only clinic, in search of someone with post stroke experience and hopefully get a second opinion on his veterinary care thus far. I’m holding off on posting negative reviews online until I figure out what I’m going to do legally.
 

JamesCalifornia

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I’m calling a new place tomorrow, a cat only clinic, in search of someone with post stroke experience and hopefully get a second opinion on his veterinary care thus far. I’m holding off on posting negative reviews online until I figure out what I’m going to do legally.
Sounds like a good idea ...:yeah:
Sad that all veterinary care is not excellent as many charge more than going to an M.D.
 

fionasmom

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Definitely a good move to see a new vet for your cat's sake while you pursue options with the first one.
 
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