Animal health care laws? Can the Vet be held responsible?

Question

A friend of mine brought her kitten into the vet, because someone stepped on him. There didnt seem to be any serious harm done, but he was breathing a little hard. The vet said that he was in shock, and would keep him overnight for observation. He gave him two shots, of darvanx? or something that sounds like that. My friend didn't have the money to pay the vet, at the time (didn't plan for an emergency visit). So the vet kept the cat for a week. Saturday morning she picked up the kitten. His stomach was grossly distended, like he had worms, but the vet said that he wormed him. He didnt comment on what could have caused the cat's stomach to be distended like that. He gave the kitten a clean bill of health. Sunday morning, he had died in his sleep. The vet says that the kitten probably just had a heartattack, and takes absolutely no responsibility in the kittens death. Why would he have released him if there was probelm? What can we do? Can the vet be held responsible?

Answer 1

If someone stepped on the cat, he probably had internal damage that is why his stomach looked like it did. The fact that your friend had no money to pay the bill for a couple of shots is likely why the vet did not treat the animal further. I doubt he can be held liable. Truthfully, how far should a vet go to save the life of an animal the owner's can't even afford to keep? I don't mean to sound harsh here, but I am sure I will....If your friend can't pay for the healthcare of her animals, she shouldn't be keeping animals. And it does not sound like she was very careful with the kitten, either. Sorry it died, though. That is sad.

Answer 2

It depends on whether your friend signed a waiver at the time the cat was admitted for treatment. When Vets usually take in animals overnight or perform surgical procedures or heartworm treatments, usually a waiver is signed that states the Vet is not responsible if the animal dies.
But since the Vet released the kitten with a clean bill of health, I would ask for a copy of the medical records, including all papers signed by your friend, then go see an attorney.

Answer 3

You always have the option of bringing a mal-practise suit against the vet. Without going into a lot of detail, I don't think you stand much of a chance of winning. Given that there are an abundance of kitten available for adoption at the humane society, why not just adopt another one? Take Care!

Answer 4

okay-phrased. : ) In my perfect international, all people who owns a canine or cat might want to have a 'marvel' visit from responsible puppy organization, who might want to withdraw some blood and decode the DNA from that animal. Then DNA checks might want to be administered to all different canine and cats filling the shelters, picked up by potential of the pound, otherwise got here across wandering, and be conscious if those animals might want to correctly be traced again to those human beings. If the guy who initially held the founding animal is a responsible individual and can want to practice that they well being try and artwork and/or practice their canine (a minimum of practice the cats, what artwork does a cat do? : ) ) and are responsible for the animals of their care, then the conventional options of monitoring - AKC registration, different workplace artwork, microchips and tattoos - might want to be administered and the hot proprietor might want to be tracked down and fined (except, for sure, it would want to correctly be shown that they were actively searching for his or her lost puppy). For the BYBs and pup generators, this can mean that each one of their adverse, genetically ill animals might want to correctly be traced again to them and they could be slapped with a heavy wonderful and investigated and with any success close down, as quickly because it really is taken into consideration that virtually ALL animals in shelters and rescues are THEIR fault. How can it no longer be, even as sturdy breeders keep in contact with their pup/kitten vendors for the existence of that animal? perchance there might want to be amendments for sturdy breeders - mutually with, once you've evidence of CERT and OFA/PennHip and practice and/or artwork your canine, then for sure you're a reasonable man or woman and do not require monitoring or expenses. all people else might want to be, in spite of the undeniable fact that, and could be punished for doing it irresponsibly, without regard to the lives they're coming up. i'm extremely drained on the prompt - up too early this morning - so i do not imagine my argument makes a lot experience, and that i have not yet touched on what it would want to do to sturdy breeders, yet i imagine it would want to be tremendous to have the variety of company. signal me up! EDIT: And that is why i'm no longer a lawyer - i do no longer make a cohesive argument! lol collectively, i will't stand authorities impact, so perchance it would want to correctly be a private organization who oversaw something of this importance.