Veterinarian Malpractice

Most of the time, our companion animals receive professional, responsible and competent service at the hands of our chosen veterinarian; even when a companion animal fails to get well or expires after treatment, it is often no fault of the veterinarian who did their best according to the standard of care expected. However, on rare occasions, the death or injury of a pet may be the result of treatment that was negligent.

In the rare occasion where malpractice is suspected, it is difficult to obtain legal redress. There are legal and financial obstacles. First and foremost, there must be a clear factual record and expert testimony from another licensed veterinarian that the standard of care fell below the normal. This often is impossible to obtain because the body has already been cremated before the initial consultation with an attorney. It is also difficult and costly to find a veterinarian to testify against a fellow professional. Finally, the insurance companies that cover veterinarians will vigorously defend the action and rarely settle.

Only you can decide whether to pursue a veterinary malpractice case, but a consultation with Gina Calogero can give you a realistic idea of whether it is worth it to you. It will help if you bring all your pet’s medical records to the office.