Case Studies      My dog died," she continued. Unfortunately, they still didn't get it. A dog is not going to have menstruation because it’s called a “heat” in dogs – menstruation is a human term because it happens monthly, not every 6-10 months like dogs…they are NOT humans and only ovulate with a heat season every 6-10 months…we took her to the vet when problems developed at 8 months, well within the time of the next expected heat….this person is obviously an idiot and can’t tell a dog from a human. In loving memory of Nalu died of vet malpractice july 15 2014 july 11 2020 5yrs old SEE OUR STORY Basically, since no case has gotten this far due to the insurance company's expertise at foot dragging and manipulating the system, I really had no expectations it would be reasonable. I was told to wait in waiting room as I preferred to keep Mula with me than have them take her away so as not to stress her, since they said it would be a wait. He said to send him the bills and his insurance will cover them, however, legal advice I received suggested I not take him up on his offer just then or it may be construed as an "agreement". However, the vet's expert will state that the … MSU was told to keep it available and intact. Dr. S said he would call them at 4:00 when surgery was expected to be over to see what they wanted. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) it is unethical for veterinarians to identify themselves as members of a AVMA-recognized specialty if such certification has not been awarded. You can send a complaint to your state veterinary licensing board. The reason for this page is that this can happen to ANYONE. In doing my research I discovered some new things - did you know that Dr. S (nor anyone at Dr. S Veterinary) is a Canine Reproduction Specialist as he so claims to dog breeders that walk in his office? Personally I feel this is deceptive and misleading. What will damage his reputation is that he left gauze in a dog during a c-section (a common operation - especially for a "reproduction specialist" as he calls himself). Her body was attempting to isolate a staph infection due to Dr. S's sloppy procedure. My eyes have been opened to a system that rewards incompetitence and kills pets with no repercussions. 9:29 pm I called MSU and asked how Mulan is doing. 8/6/2009 2:01am Returned home. The same source found that veterinary malpractice claims have increased every year since 1983, in part, because owners have higher expectations of veterinary treatments and procedures than in previous decades. I'm going share my dog Mulan's story here so you can see how corrupt and twisted the system actually is - how it is construed in favor of the "big guy" (whether that is the insurance company or the "big name" veterinarian). He would be doing the surgery, rinsing her out (using technical terms) and had lots of experience since he worked in Europe where they have 2 pyometras a day and here they don’t have them that often because everyone spays their dog. She was in a large kennel with blankets to lie on. I only hope that his greed … Most new owners call and make an appointment as they leave the store, and sometimes we’ll be able to get them in for a same-day appointment. It did not address my actual damages (Mula's ability to produce puppies, to represent our Kennel at shows, the fraud perpetrated by Dr. S regarding his credentials, the malpractice, or the damages and vet bills) and addressed about 1/2 of the veterinary bill incurred - not including attorney fees. It doesn't have to be a show dog...It doesn't have to be a c-section - it can be any kind of veterinary procedure or surgery and you are at the mercy of arrogant veterinarians and insurance companies and the antiquated 1919 Michigan Dog Law. Just get another Fluffy - they are all the same aren't they? He was concerned why they took out entire uterus since she is a show dog and went on about how much more valuable a show dog is than an average dog. It hurts emotionally and financially - and doubly so when the one that did the damage was someone you had confidence in and trusted, but when a mistake is made, they turn on you rather than make it right. He said they were giving her fluids (no antibiotics?) They must be either a Diplomat or certified by the College of Theriogenology and Dr. S is neither. It is obvious to any lay person that she was not born with gauze in her uterus. He is the one that told me it’s a “closed pyometra”. Vet malpractice cases are challenging because they are typically costly to litigate (expert witnesses are generally needed to testify as to the appropriate level of care) and the damages that you can collect are generally small (usually the “fair market value” of the pet). SG messed around with this for several months with no resolution to the point I began to really feel he was not working in my best interests any longer - I felt he'd been "bought off". Told nothing had been done yet. Recommended Posts. One state has moved to change that, Texas. )...what evidence do YOU see?Looks more to me like somebody got paid off. Under the law your dog has a value of almost NOTHING - comparable to a table lamp that can be replaced.One state has moved to change that, Texas. I'm glad it's over...but it's not. Ferrara and her husband Chris do not have children; the 9-year-old Shih Tzu was like a daughter to them. The Better Business Bureau is a joke. The Future Of Veterinary Malpractice Liability In The Care Of Companion Animals . She had won several awards at dog shows, was AKC pointed, and had spent 3 years training to show, and loved doing it. Dogs can be bred, according to the AKC guidelines up to age 12. He wanted me to remove all mention of his name on the entire Internet (as if that were possible) and remove the critique on RipOff Report. Coverage of the wastewater spill at the Manatee County processing plant. In fact, only a percentage of veterinarians pay for malpractice insurance anyway, because claims are so hard to prove. No matter that the pet was an autistic child's link to the outside world, or an elderly person's best friend...doesn't matter. I waited an extra week and he still didn't sign (but expected me to clean up the internet!) She explains, “It’s poor medicine … and so far from natural, individualized, humane veterinary care.” I would have never needed to put up a web site or file a complaint had Dr. S acted like a responsible adult. Learn about experimental techniques, animal cloning, vaccinations, and more. The law did not acknowledge that they have feelings, or even feel pain. I hired an attorney - and they avoided his calls and contact. I hope it never happens to their top show prospect! But not all medical errors are malpractice, and the fact that an animal's condition got worse after treatment doesn't necessarily mean that the vet is liable for malpractice. View it here. She said, well, not really, the cyst could be cancerous, full of blood, some other things and wouldn’t know until they opened her up and did exploratory surgery. Red Tide Has Now Reached Hillsborough As Blooms Persist In Southwest Florida. Jazzy also had 8 puppies at 8 years of age because she was in good health. Mulan spent the spring hanging around with her kids. The doc was called and came in from his home. Also, for most pet … It was the size of a cantaloupeand was growing very close to her spine and vital organs. The MSU surgical vet Dr. Guiot saw gauze. The reason for this page is that this can happen to ANYONE. Dr. S, DVM opened my eyes to the way the system is manipulated by bad veterinarians that kill or maim our pets, then walk away from the carnage without taking responsibility. I was just very fortunate the staff at MSU was competent and Mulan survived. But I digress, I will try and present this in the order of how things transpired so that you can become aware of just how broken the system is. ), About this time I discovered Dr. S is not a Diplomat of the College of Theriogenology so is not qualified to hold himself out as a reproduction specialist even though he promotes himself as a "reproduction specialist" in Michigan. TV vet Noel Fitzpatrick reveals today how he fell into a deep depression after being accused of malpractice over his treatment of a tortoise.. But Dr. S STILL hasn't paid anything 7 months later!First, probably as another stall tactic, Dr. S's attorney drafts up a final agreement - which is basically the OLD agreement I would not agree to sign before mediation (the one wanting me to "fix" the Internet!)!!!! I did not purchase another dog mainly because our lines are unique and this would not be helpful to our breeding program. (He told us he was the most experienced and best at obtaining results in this area and again, and claims to be an expert in canine reproductive techniques). They were also recipients of some of that government bailout money...but apparently it's not so they can pay legitimate claims. 2 years. Share Followers 0. No dog should die or be maimed due to a veterinarian's negligence. So health is the determining factor, not necessarily age. The bacteria they were treating, Staphocci was gone, just awaiting lab culture to make sure. I WAS WRONG! The receptionist put me on hold and went to check. Stempy was a victim of alleged veterinary negligence / veterinary malpractice.The BAD veterinarian who did this to Stempy was Ann Thomas DVM of Rodeo Drive Veterinary Hospital in Mesquite, Texas. He said he would. I suppose they would have preferred her to be dead, as it would have been cleaner – no pesky breeder upset about losing the ability to have puppies from their beautiful show dog. Marisa Design She was at a vet office in February for a routine exam and rabies shot and they saw no symptoms or signs of infection at that time. 8/6/2009 9:07am Dr. D, who the case was transferred to called. What part of "freedom of speech" do they not get? Clarksville veterinarian forfeits license after 'gross malpractice' in 2 dog deaths, state says. Please be patient, as this has taken almost 5YEARS, thousands of dollars and undetermined time to come to an end ...so sit down, relax, it's going to take some time.... 8/5/2009 7:15 pm went to let dogs out, no Mula. Are they saying Dr X who has made many mistakes including leaving gauze in a dog during surgery is more knowledgeable than MSU? While your veterinarian will refer to you as "pet parents" in his office, let something go wrong and suddenly your pet is nothing more than a piece of furniture with a set "value" (determined by dubious "experts") under the law. What it will do is make sloppy veterinarians accountable to patients and their owners that can prove negligence. 8/5/2009 8:20 pm Arrived at MSU. He collected sperm from the male and it was noted that the male’s sperm was abundant and viable. Due to the great care at Michigan State University's Clinic, Mulan lived - but the vet bill was astronomical. My response to that letter is here. Leicester: Jatinder Dhami. Neither male produced 2 testicles upon adulthood. Veterinary Malpractice. Lemon Laws       Stories, As stated in the 1st and 14th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, to express information, ideas, and opinions free of government restrictions based on content is a right. Years later they amended the ancient laws and added provisions for basic care, defined abuse and sometimes number limits...but generally the law is the same as it was more than 100 years ago. I asked what was taking so long and was told there were other emergencies and since she is “stable” she could wait. She had a puppy stuck sideways in the Y of the uterine canal that prevented labor from progressing. While veterinary malpractice cases are not tracked by the American Veterinary Medical Association, they are a regular part of my practice. The loss of genetics and income from puppies, and accumulating interest, court fees, and of course veterinary bills incurred needed to be addressed. Environment. And it wasn't. I was warned at the onset by others, that he had done this before to others and has intimidated people into giving up. And just so you'll notice, it's still here. Certain levels indicative of this were sky-high. Makes me wonder what would have happened had I brought Mula BACK to Dr. S when she got sick? Often, a trial for veterinary malpractice will come down to dueling expert opinions. Ms. M: You advised that you would be sending proof of the dog's pedigree and what puppies from previous litters sold for. She’s heard many stories of vets vaccinating animals without permission … or even performing expensive, unnecessary surgeries. Please ask your friends to join with us to change the law. 8/8/2009 2:00 pm Visited Mula to check on her. What are you afraid of Dr. 9-30/2009 Dr. S's Insurance Attorney refused to speak to me, was rude and nasty claiming she'd only talk to an attorney and didn't have to talk to me. If Dr. S tries to wiggle out of the Mediation agreement, I won't even remove his name since it's improper and a conflict of interest for the Insurance company to humor him in this regard when it's not even something that should be part of the negotiation. Because Dr. S held himself out to be a reproductive vet, we sought his opinion on the status of two males having testicles descended. A similar letter went to the Michigan State Licensing Board. I never dreamed what would come next. Eight months after the c-section surgery, I found Mula lying by a toilet, and when asked her to go out she was moving very lethargic and slow with her head down. 8/9/2009 9:14 am Dr. D called and said Mula was clear to go home. How do we know that vets that know they screwed up, and can't fixthe problem, do not hasten the dog's deathto keep from being sued? State licensing boards have the power to suspend or revoke a veterinarian’s license, although this rarely … Dr. S spent thousands getting the complaint overturned and his license back...too bad he did not give the dog he almost killed and her family the same courtesy and compensation. Star died, violently seizuring and in great pain in a strange veterinary office. Any government may distinguish which materials are public or protected from disclosure to the public based on classification of information as sensitive, classified or secret and being otherwise protected from disclosure due to relevance of the information to protecting the national interest. He DID join a canine reproduction club which has a similar name...but it's just that - a club - it can't confer any kind of recognition recognized by the AVMA. The law is not fair and here's why....if you have a widget machine and someone destroys it, you can be compensated for many things that affect your business including a fair price for the value of your "equipment" - but if it's your expensive, rare pedigreed dog that's a different story. When my attorney was able to make contact, she would askagain and again for the SAME informationwhich we had to provide over and over. Since many thousands were paid to attorneys to fix the licensing complaint in his favor, I would again be victimized by paying HIS attorney bills.