Can I sue a veterinarian for medical malpractice or negligence?
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Can I sue a veterinarian for medical malpractice or negligence?
I want to try to be bried but my dog started with a limp on her hind legs and I took her to a neurologist vet who prescribed a very strong dose of medication. Throughout the whole week while giving my dog the medication she started getting worse symptoms each day. I called the vet to make sure I updated them on every symptom she was getting but the neurologist was never available to talk to and they said he wouldn’t be in until Monday. The techs advised me to keep giving her the medication even though I told them the symptoms she was experiencing including diarrhea, blood in stool, loss of appetite, anxiety, lethargy, as well I kept giving her the medication as advised. However, on Monday of last week, after 1 week of such a strong dose she passed away that day. Another thing is that on the autopsy they found out that she had a tumor on her spinal cord that caused the disablement of her 2 hind legs however the vet and radiologists had done X-rays and an MRI to rule out possibility of tumors and they said she did not have any tumors but it turns out she did. Now I have a bill for $4000 for the MRI that did not even detect the correct issue which was a tumor and my dog is gone. Is there anything that I can do about this at all?
Asked on July 17, 2019 under Malpractice Law, Iowa
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
Medical malpractice is negligence.
Prior to filing a lawsuit against the vet for negligence, it may be possible to settle the case with the vet's malpractice insurance carrier. Your claim filed with that insurance carrier should include the medical bills and medical reports.
If the case is settled with the vet's insurance carrier , no lawsuit is filed.
If you are dissatisfied with the settlement offers, reject them and file a lawsuit for negligence against the vet.
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