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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / September 2004filing a complaint with the state board
My bloodhound recently died from bloat. the emergency clinic did NOTHING for over 30 minutes despite my begging and pleading. The vet on duty was obviously negligent as was his staff. I need to know how to successfully file a complaint. Thank you Nicole  Signature3 of every 10 Americans Know Someone With Lupus Help find the cure. www.lupus.org Where do you live? Here in Ontario Canada there is the CVO that oversees everything and that's who you complain to about any vet. Here, the actions of the staff are all reflective on the vet so if you had a complaint agains a tech for example, it'd be against the vet as well. But that's in Canada. > My bloodhound recently died from bloat. the emergency clinic did NOTHING > for over 30 minutes despite my begging and pleading. The vet on duty was > obviously negligent as was his staff. > I need to know how to successfully file a complaint. > Thank you > Nicole I'm in california. there is a state board and that's what i'm going to file a complaint with. i want that vet's butt. he has no business being in practice if he's not going to help... he didn't even try nicole > Where do you live? Here in Ontario Canada there is the CVO that oversees > everything and that's who you complain to about any vet. Here, the actions [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Thank you > > Nicole "> >> My bloodhound recently died from bloat. the emergency clinic did NOTHING >> for over 30 minutes despite my begging and pleading. The vet on duty was >> obviously negligent as was his staff. >> I need to know how to successfully file a complaint. >> Thank you >> Nicole http://www.vmb.ca.gov/comp-inf.htm have that info, thanks. i want it to actually get some action. that's what i'm working on > "> > >> My bloodhound recently died from bloat. the emergency clinic did NOTHING [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >> > http://www.vmb.ca.gov/comp-inf.htm > have that info, thanks. i want it to actually get some action. Like what, exactly? I understand you're upset, but if you go off half-cocked, you're going to have a hard time getting taken seriously. Josh Half cocked? Hardly. Why did you assume that? Not once did I come off as an emotional tyrant. I stated that I wanted to do this correctly so I would get action taken. I want this vet to learn how to treat a critical emergency, not to be apathetic and complacent. I am taking my time, writing down the events, facts only. That's why I was asking for help. I realize as a vet this is something you probably don't believe in. But my vet and several others have confirmed that this vet was negligent. Do you wait over 30 mintues on a bloated dog to even look at him? I can send you what I'm working on right now if you want to read the story. No attempt was made to decompress my dog for over 30 minutes despite the obvious bloat. I knew it was bloat and am not a vet. This vet was lazy and wanted to go home, according to what one vet told me. If you can help, I appreciate it. But don't jump to conclusions.... I have not written anything here that's been emotional, tyrannical, or just plain nuts.... I want to properly file this report so this vet will learn something from it. That is not too much to ask is it? > > have that info, thanks. i want it to actually get some action. > > Like what, exactly? I understand you're upset, but if you go off > half-cocked, you're going to have a hard time getting taken seriously. > Josh > Half cocked? Hardly. Why did you assume that? Not once did I come off > as > an emotional tyrant. Sorry if I irked you. Didn't intend to. Just wanted you to be cognizant- these boards hear from a lot of very angry owners who are so overly emotional that it can be difficult to understand them. > I am taking my time, writing down the events, facts only. That's why I > was > asking for help. Good. That is exactly what you should do. > I realize as a vet this is something you probably don't believe in. But > my > vet and several others have confirmed that this vet was negligent. Totally, utterly wrong. I believe very strongly that these boards have an important place in the profession. I don't want incompetant practicioners out there any more than you do, and I darn sure know there are some. They give us all a bad name when they do something stupid. And I'm not a vet. I'm a poor third year student with three tests next week. > Do you wait over 30 mintues on a bloated dog to even look at him? Ummmm.....no. Not a good idea, obviously. > If you can help, I appreciate it. But don't jump to conclusions.... I wasn't. Was saying things in general. Aforementioned tests probably contributed to me not being sensitive enough. Sorry. Josh, I appreciate the email. So many times "doctors" stick with other "doctors" same with "law enforcement". My dog obviously died from neglect considering the vet on call was an idiot (my opinion LOL) If it's ok, I'll send you what I have so far so you can understand what happened. thank you again take care and good luck on those test. Nicole > > Josh > > Half cocked? Hardly. Why did you assume that? Not once did I come off [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > I wasn't. Was saying things in general. Aforementioned tests probably > contributed to me not being sensitive enough. Sorry. > If it's ok, I'll send you what I have so far so you can understand what > happened. > thank you again Sure, go ahead. > Josh > Half cocked? Hardly. Why did you assume that? Not once did I come off as [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Like what, exactly? I understand you're upset, but if you go off > > half-cocked, you're going to have a hard time getting taken seriously. Your state has a responsibility to you and the entire public that the veterinarians it licenses are practicing quality veterinary medicine according to the standards set forth by that state board. If you have a concern or complaint, it is absolutely your right to have it addressed by the state board. As a practical matter, however, you might consider first sitting down with the vet in question and frankly discussing the whole situation with him/her before going that route. Many of your issues may be a remediable communication problem between the two of you rather than an actual deviation from the veterinary standards of care. HMc > As a practical matter, however, you might consider first sitting down with > the vet in question and frankly discussing the whole situation with [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > HMc Good point. As I understand it, this is often one of the first things that the boards ask, and look more favorably on someone who tried to sort it out than someone who immediately filed a complaint. >> As a practical matter, however, you might consider first sitting down with >> the vet in question and frankly discussing the whole situation with [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > the boards ask, and look more favorably on someone who tried to sort it out > than someone who immediately filed a complaint. I guess so, but my question would be, what is there to sort out when you waited with your very in need animal at an *emergency* vet for 30 minutes and it expires? I mean, what are you supposed to ask? I would have a hard time even knowing where to start on that one and I am pretty darned diplomatic. My family AND my bosses have made special note to me of how good I am in bad situations. But this? I just wouldn't even know what there is to "sort". In the fine newsgroup "alt.med.veterinary", Karen Chuplis <kchuplis@alltel.net> artfully composed this message within <news:BD73B956.41F1A%kchuplis@alltel.net> on 19 Sep 2004: > I guess so, but my question would be, what is there to sort out > when you waited with your very in need animal at an *emergency* [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > situations. But this? I just wouldn't even know what there is to > "sort". You bring up a good point. I had planned to report the emergency clinic when I called to take Shadow in when his gut ruptured and they turned us away more than 2 hours before they were supposed to close. I told our regular vet, who was horrified, but never reported the clinic. Ironically, this is a clinic that shared office space with the internist from hell who butchered him in the first place. SignatureCheryl Karen Exactly. What are we supposed to chat about? It's not a matter of which procedures should have been done.... he did NOTHING. There is nthing to communicate about. He needs education on the emergency treatment of bloat/torsion. Every vet should know this anyway, especially an EMERGENCY vet. I did send him some information on the proper treatment along with a 3 page letter to the owner of the clinic. > >> As a practical matter, however, you might consider first sitting down with > >> the vet in question and frankly discussing the whole situation with [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > I am in bad situations. But this? I just wouldn't even know what there is to > "sort". >As a practical matter, however, you might consider first sitting down with >the vet in question and frankly discussing the whole situation with him/her Also, as a practical matter -- without any wish to judge the merits of your complaint- you may want to look over any release documents you signed and to learn whether there are other veterinarians, technicians and/or receptionists at the practice who might -- right or wrong -- have a different perception of the time, the treatment afforded to you etc. Ideally you might want to have an attorney to help you. Again, as a practical matter, unless you live in one of the few states where the emotional harm ("pain and suffering") you had can be part of a suit or unless you can justify egregious malpractice, you may have difficulty getting an attorney on a contingent fee basis. One other observation -- also with no wish to judge the magnitude of the hurt -- most vets in emergency clinics are specialists. Some are board certified and others have extensive experience and training. They have a lot of credibility. Now, if you can prove that the veterinarian was not properly licensed or impaired (mental or substance abuse), you have an easier time. There are also referral agencies from which you can hire veterinarians for consultation and expert testimony. Any attorney would want one of these and add 15% to their professional fees. I do not claim that the situation I have tried to describe is morally correct. Most professions have developed ways to "cover their assetts" while clients and consumers confront the system as amateurs. Stephen Dubin VMD This isn't about the money at all! I never want to see this happen again. There are no other options when it comes to bloat/torsion. Let the dog lay there for 30 minutes without doing anything? That's negligence not another option. Nicole > >As a practical matter, however, you might consider first sitting down with > >the vet in question and frankly discussing the whole situation with him/her [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Stephen Dubin VMD >This isn't about the money at all! Fine. I wish you well and, considering the depth of your passion, I hope any valid action you attempt will succeed. The current AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) malpractice insurance policy offers a rider for defense of actions before state boards and other regulatory bodies. It costs $49.00 and provides virtually unlimited legal aid to the insured veterinarian. It is very likely that the defendant in your complaint will have expert experienced legal help. At that point it may become "about money" regardless of your intentions. My favorite blessed memory verse for situations like this where one might try to fight against vested interests are Acts 9:6 and Acts 26:15 (KJV:" It is hard to kick against the pricks.") Stephen Dubin VMD > My bloodhound recently died from bloat. the emergency clinic did NOTHING > for over 30 minutes despite my begging and pleading. The vet on duty was > obviously negligent as was his staff. > I need to know how to successfully file a complaint. > Thank you > Nicole I've read through the posts on this thread and I may have missed it, but is it possible the vet who ignored you was in the middle of saving some other animals life? If s/he was sitting in the back enjoying something on TV and ignoring you it would be one thing, but if s/he was in the middle of a hit by car surgery it would be quite another thing. There were no other animals or people there. TV was on in the background. Even then, a vet tech can decompress. > > My bloodhound recently died from bloat. the emergency clinic did NOTHING > > for over 30 minutes despite my begging and pleading. The vet on duty was [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > was in the middle of a hit by car surgery it would be quite another > thing. > There were no other animals or people there. TV was on in the background. > Even then, a vet tech can decompress. A vet tech can decompress if it's a non-life threatening bloat from overeating or similar. If the bloat is due to a gastric volvulus, nasogastric tube decompression won't do a thing, and the only way to save the animal's life is immediate surgery to de-torse the stomach, resect it if it's dead. HMc Rufus was burping and farting so the stomach was trying to work. The necropsy showed the stomach was in the correct position. The clinic neglected my dog and made no attempt to decompress. They were not busy just negligent. I've seen cows stabbed with a knife (in to the stomach area) cuz they're bloating. I should've done that or with something. I will have tubing and a 18 gauge needle from now on. With such a large dog, you can even use a water hose cut into the right length. I know this now. the tube is put down thru the mouth not thru the nose. I understand bloat is a dangerous condition- no one knows what causes it, what prevents it, etc . Rufus hadn't eaten in 12 hrs so food did not factor into his bloat. He could've died anyways.... even with appropriate treatment but we'll never know because he never received treatment. > > There were no other animals or people there. TV was on in the background. > > Even then, a vet tech can decompress. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > HMc |
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