Tragic Mistake

Unbelievably, my friend took two eight-month-old rescue sister tabbies
in to a Central Florida vet to be spayed, and when she returned for
her babies they had declawed one of them. The vet called tonight and
told her he will do "whatever it takes" to make this up to her. All
she can do is cry.

Ideas?

I thought maybe make his give a ton of money to a no-kill shelter--or,
she gets a lawyer and donates any funds collected. She is heartsick as
am I. These girls are inseparable, and now one of them is mutilated
forever. (And you can bet I will be letting all and everyone know the
name of this vet if he doesn't come through in a big way. Or maybe
even if he does.)

Mary,



I'm sorry to hear about this situation. Moreover, in the state of Florida,
all veterinary complaints have to be directed to the Department of Business
and Professional Regulation. I'll post the link at the bottom of this post.
There is an online protocol that your friend can follow to file a complaint
electronically, or if she prefer, she can download and print out the
necessary forms to file a complaint.

Veterinary malpractice, incompetence and negligence are not extremely common
in the state of Florida. Nonetheless, something should be done. There are
several steps you can take when you suspect that veterinary malpractice has
happened.

First, send a concise, accurate, and factual written complaint (what
happened, when, and where) to your state veterinary licensing board, asking
for an investigation and response. Follow up your written complaint by
telephoning the licensing board. You should also submit a complaint to your
local veterinary medical association, asking for an investigation. File
copies of your complaints with the Better Business Bureau, local and state
Consumer Affairs offices. You can also file a small claims suit against the
veterinarian by filling out a form and paying a small fee at your local
courthouse. You are responsible for presenting your own case in small claims
court, so be sure to have copies of all your animal's medical records,
statements from other veterinarians who examined your animal once you
suspected negligence, and copies of your veterinary bills. Although small
claims courts award only "out-of-pocket" expenses, the attention generated
by your case may be enough to prevent a veterinarian from acting
irresponsibly in the future.

You can also hire a lawyer and bring a malpractice lawsuit against the
veterinarian or negotiate a settlement. As with a small claims suit, you
will need documentation to back up your case, including statements from
"expert witnesses" (such as veterinarians, pathologists, and others with
special professional knowledge of the issues under consideration) this is
extremely expensive and usually not easy for the average person to obtain.
Unfortunately, you may find that many lawyers hesitate to take on these
cases because the potential for a large monetary award is extremely low. In
most veterinary malpractice cases, awards are limited to the costs incurred,
plus the cost of replacing a companion animal with an animal of similar
value. Some state courts, however, are beginning to acknowledge the unique
nature of the bond shared by humans and their companion animals, and these
courts also permit the recovery of "reasonable sentimental value" in some
instances. California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, and New Jersey are
among the states where recent veterinary negligence cases prompted judges
and juries to assess the value of companion animals beyond their "property
value." Moreover, since your friend rescued the two kittens, if the she goes
through the motion of hiring an attorney and the case is heard before a
judge, and the judge decides in her favor, she will receive what the state
deems is the average price of a rescued cat. Nonetheless, there hasn't been
a case that anyone in the above states has been granted over two thousand
dollars regardless of the damages incurred. To find an attorney, ask for a
recommendation from the local bar association. I hope this helps.

Here is the link to file a complaint in the state of Florida.



http://www.state.fl.us/dbpr/reg/inde...%20INFORMATION

Iso wrote:
Mary,



I'm sorry to hear about this situation. Moreover, in the state of
Florida, all veterinary complaints have to be directed to the
Department of Business and Professional Regulation. I'll post the
link at the bottom of this post. There is an online protocol that
your friend can follow to file a complaint electronically, or if she
prefer, she can download and print out the necessary forms to file a
complaint.

The really sad thing is that he is a very nice man. He told her
yesterday that someone would
be fired because of what was done to her cat. He actually did the
operation, but the wrong
kitty was selected by an aide. He didn't recognize my friend's cat
because Tabbies look
so much alike. I told her about your recommendations this morning. She
is better about it,
has at least stopped crying. Thank you for your thoughtful and
detailed response.

Iso wrote:
Mary,



I'm sorry to hear about this situation. Moreover, in the state of
Florida, all veterinary complaints have to be directed to the
Department of Business and Professional Regulation. I'll post the
link at the bottom of this post. There is an online protocol that
your friend can follow to file a complaint electronically, or if she
prefer, she can download and print out the necessary forms to file a
complaint.

The really sad thing is that he is a very nice man. He told her
yesterday that someone would
be fired because of what was done to her cat. He actually did the
operation, but the wrong
kitty was selected by an aide. He didn't recognize my friend's cat
because Tabbies look
so much alike. I told her about your recommendations this morning. She
is better about it,
has at least stopped crying. Thank you for your thoughtful and
detailed response.

From: "Mary"

Unbelievably, my friend took two eight-month-old rescue sister tabbies
in to a Central Florida vet to be spayed, and when she returned for
her babies they had declawed one of them. The vet called tonight and
told her he will do "whatever it takes" to make this up to her. All
she can do is cry.

Ideas?

I thought maybe make his give a ton of money to a no-kill shelter--or,
she gets a lawyer and donates any funds collected. She is heartsick as
am I. These girls are inseparable, and now one of them is mutilated
forever. (And you can bet I will be letting all and everyone know the
name of this vet if he doesn't come through in a big way. Or maybe
even if he does.)


OMG, that is horrible!!! That poor kitty! I would flip out if a vet ever
did that to one of my cats. But I guess it's done so the only recourse to make
this sick monster pay with money. I wonder if a complaint can be made to the
veterinarian board in the state where she lives.

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

OMG, that is horrible!!! That poor kitty! I would flip out if a vet ever
did that to one of my cats. But I guess it's done so the only recourse to make
this sick monster pay with money.
Sick monster??? Bit harsh you gotta admit.
More like a vet and staff who made a mistake. It shouldn't happen,
but it does happen to the best of us. But he called her, took
responsibility for his actions, and "offered to do whatever it takes
to make it up to her", which to me shows integrity.

Teri

"teri" wrote in message
...

OMG, that is horrible!!! That poor kitty! I would flip out if a vet
ever
did that to one of my cats. But I guess it's done so the only recourse
to make
this sick monster pay with money.
Sick monster??? Bit harsh you gotta admit.
More like a vet and staff who made a mistake. It shouldn't happen,
but it does happen to the best of us. But he called her, took
responsibility for his actions, and "offered to do whatever it takes
to make it up to her", which to me shows integrity.

Teri

I hope this shows integrity, as you said. On the other hand, what else
could he do other than to call her and take responsibility -- after all,
this isn't the type of mistake that would go "unnoticed." And then I just
read another message from the OP in which she says that this clinic actually
sent the wrong cat home (and they sent a large male cat home wearing her
small female cat's collar). The woman discovered it on the way home when
she looked in the carrier, then went back to get her own cat.

MaryL

From: "MaryL" AKE-OU

"teri" wrote in message
.. .

OMG, that is horrible!!! That poor kitty! I would flip out if a vet
ever
did that to one of my cats. But I guess it's done so the only recourse
to make
this sick monster pay with money.
Sick monster??? Bit harsh you gotta admit.
More like a vet and staff who made a mistake. It shouldn't happen,
but it does happen to the best of us. But he called her, took
responsibility for his actions, and "offered to do whatever it takes
to make it up to her", which to me shows integrity.

Teri

I hope this shows integrity, as you said. On the other hand, what else
could he do other than to call her and take responsibility -- after all,
this isn't the type of mistake that would go "unnoticed." And then I just
read another message from the OP in which she says that this clinic actually
sent the wrong cat home (and they sent a large male cat home wearing her
small female cat's collar). The woman discovered it on the way home when
she looked in the carrier, then went back to get her own cat.

MaryL

My statement sick monster stands. This guy has a huge problem and should NOT
be practicing veterinarian medicine. He has mutilated Mary's friend's cat

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

From: "MaryL" AKE-OU

"teri" wrote in message
.. .

OMG, that is horrible!!! That poor kitty! I would flip out if a vet
ever
did that to one of my cats. But I guess it's done so the only recourse
to make
this sick monster pay with money.
Sick monster??? Bit harsh you gotta admit.
More like a vet and staff who made a mistake. It shouldn't happen,
but it does happen to the best of us. But he called her, took
responsibility for his actions, and "offered to do whatever it takes
to make it up to her", which to me shows integrity.

Teri

I hope this shows integrity, as you said. On the other hand, what else
could he do other than to call her and take responsibility -- after all,
this isn't the type of mistake that would go "unnoticed." And then I just
read another message from the OP in which she says that this clinic actually
sent the wrong cat home (and they sent a large male cat home wearing her
small female cat's collar). The woman discovered it on the way home when
she looked in the carrier, then went back to get her own cat.

MaryL

My statement sick monster stands. This guy has a huge problem and should NOT
be practicing veterinarian medicine. He has mutilated Mary's friend's cat

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

"teri" wrote in message
...

OMG, that is horrible!!! That poor kitty! I would flip out if a vet
ever
did that to one of my cats. But I guess it's done so the only recourse
to make
this sick monster pay with money.
Sick monster??? Bit harsh you gotta admit.
More like a vet and staff who made a mistake. It shouldn't happen,
but it does happen to the best of us. But he called her, took
responsibility for his actions, and "offered to do whatever it takes
to make it up to her", which to me shows integrity.

Teri

I hope this shows integrity, as you said. On the other hand, what else
could he do other than to call her and take responsibility -- after all,
this isn't the type of mistake that would go "unnoticed." And then I just
read another message from the OP in which she says that this clinic actually
sent the wrong cat home (and they sent a large male cat home wearing her
small female cat's collar). The woman discovered it on the way home when
she looked in the carrier, then went back to get her own cat.

MaryL