Have times gotten so bad a vet would do a fake surgery?

[medeak]

Dog displayed pain visiting my folks in Las Vegas and could see anal gland was in bad shape. Took to vet and she left a message for me that she had discovered "a huge mass" that needed taken out. Returned call and gave permission and just torn up worried. She told me to pick up the dog at 2:30...but she wasn't there when I picked him up. Had to drive to CA the next day and dog had no pain meds and was suffering...took to CA vet today who asked me "what are all these sutures for?" told her the story and she told me there were no incisions...just sutures. What?????? She called the Vegas vet 3 times trying to get an answer and finally the third time spoke to vet and asked "what are all the sutures on this dog for?" Vegas vet "I NEVER sutured that dog" CA vet "are you implying the owner sutured the dog?" Vegas vet "I don't know what you are talking about" and hung up. CA vet took out the sutures (with nothing underneath) treated the anal gland, gave me antibiotics and pain meds and charged me $35. Vegas vet put fake sutures in and charged me $306. I just can't believe times have gotten so bad to do such a horrid thing to a little dog and not even give anything for pain after you torture him sewing him up for no reason.

edited to say: CA vet told me "I have NEVER said this to anyone before...but never go back to that vet"

[FirstLight]

1. OMG...is there a Veterinary Ethics Board?

this sounds like a malpractice suit, for sure...

bastard...probably needs to make a house payment on his Vegas mansion and jacked a bunch of people to get the cash.

ugh- i hate when Doctors do stupid procedures on people, but this is even worse. :mad:

[kestrel91316]

16. No such thing. It's not an "ethics" board, it's the NV Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners

https://www.nvvetboard.us/GLSuiteWeb/HomeFrame.aspx

[Old Codger]

2. Get that ass

Make damn sure you get all the info and a statement from the Ca vet and file a suit as fast as possible...

[kestrel91316]

19. Wrong answer. Get a copy of the records, have a disinterested third party assess

what was allegedly done in NV vs what the CA vet observed, and consider a complaint to the NV veterinary board.

[Love Bug]

3. You're going to report this vet, right?

I'm gobsmacked that someone would do that to your dog and rip you off, too. Outrageous.

[Systematic Chaos]

4. One word explains it all: "VEGAS".

This place is nothing but a shit hole full of scammers and opportunists. You can't get charity here. You can't put an ad in Craigslist locally asking for donated medications or supplies (non-narcotic, I should add) without people wanting to charge you 50% or more of retail. Getting any kind of help here is almost impossible. But just try riding a city bus for more than two miles without someone trying to sell you shit they shoplifted from the mall or drug store you just passed.

I'm glad you were only here to visit your parents, and that your little doggie is okay. Give him a hug for me.

And PLEASE, PM me with the name and location of this "vet", so we don't accidentally take one of our four cats to this fuckstick!

[medeak]

12. thanks to Guv Gibby there is no consumer fraud bureau in budget

damn certain I will be contacting state vet board on Keitzke Lane in Reno! Some very young female vet...the others may be fine.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Notify the state veterinary licensing board.

That's just awful!

[ShortnFiery]

6. Unbelievable. Just VILE. :(

:(

[elleng]

7. Somehow inform others who might go to that vet for servcices.

[kestrel91316]

20. If she does that before winning in court or in a complaint before the veterinary board,

she will be on the losing end of a libel/slander lawsuit.

[elleng]

27. which is why I said 'somehow.'

What Defenses Are Available To People Accused of Defamation?

The most important defense to an action for defamation is "truth", which is an absolute defense to an action for defamation.

Another defense to defamation actions is "privilege". For example, statements made by witnesses in court, arguments made in court by lawyers, statements by legislators on the floor of the legislature, or by judges while sitting on the bench, are ordinarily privileged, and cannot support a cause of action for defamation, no matter how false or outrageous.

A defense recognized in most jurisdictions is "opinion". If the person makes a statement of opinion as opposed to fact, the statement may not support a cause of action for defamation. Whether a statement is viewed as an expression of fact or opinion can depend upon context - that is, whether or not the person making the statement would be perceived by the community as being in a position to know whether or not it is true. If your employer calls you a pathological liar, it is far less likely to be regarded as opinion than if such a statement is made by somebody you just met. Some jurisdictions have eliminated the distinction between fact and opinion, and instead hold that any statement that suggests a factual basis can support a cause of action for defamation.

A defense similar to opinion is "fair comment on a matter of public interest". If the mayor of a town is involved in a corruption scandal, expressing the opinion that you believe the allegations are true is not likely to support a cause of action for defamation.

A defendant may also attempt to illustrate that the plaintiff had a poor reputation in the community, in order to diminish any claim for damages resulting from the defamatory statements.

http://www.expertlaw.com/library/personal_injury/defamation.html

[EndersDame]

8. Write your Newspaper call the local news

People in your area need to know!

[sandnsea]

9. SUE

That's one of the most disgusting things I've heard in a while.

and why can a vet do all that treatment for just $35, and live a very nice life, but a doctor can't.

[kestrel91316]

21. My teeny weeny little hospital has overhead in excess of $10k a month.

Some of the big boys are probably more like $250k a month. Overhead.

Not sure what planet you live on.

[sandnsea]

28. Once upon a time

back in the late 70s, I paid my doctor and my vet the same for a routine office visit. When I moved from Montana to Nevada, an office visit went from $25 to $75. That was in 1996. I found a doctor in a small town 30 miles the other direction from me, for $40. Health care costs aren't really that clear cut.

On edit:

I suppose I should add that my GP charges $200 a visit, while my ENT charges $125. I don't think office visits are that expensive everywhere.

[medeak]

25. think vet took pity on me

as really...how can you give out drugs and charge that little?

[kestrel91316]

10. I don't know what the law is in NV, but here in CA you simply call the vet office and

ask for a complete copy of the entire medical record, have them mail it to you, and they are required to say YES MA'AM and do it, no questions asked. If the record does not jib with what your vet here has seen, you may have a valid complaint to bring before the NV veterinary regulatory folks.

Don't immediately assume the worst. There could be some sort of miscommunication.

[medeak]

17. saw the file myself

when waiting 35 min in examining room to get my dog and opened door and saw it hanging on the door. Picked it up and there was NOTHING written down. Ca vet asking for records was faxed a bill I was given and nothing else...no diagnosis notta.

[EFerrari]

23. Ask for the hard copy anyway. That way no matter what you decide

it's your option.

[kestrel91316]

29. The NV vet board will demand a copy of the entire record when you file your complaint for fraud.

Be sure you submit a copy of the record from the CA vet that says there were sutures but no incision. Are you absolutely sure that the incision wasn't just really well made and well sutured and already healing by the time you got the dog rechecked?? I do surgery sometimes where the owners can't see any incision afterwards at all (if I use buried absorbable sutures) - if the skin edges are in prefect apposition the wound can be very hard to see.

"Large mass" doesn't really cut it. Was it a perianal tumor? Impacted/abscessed anal sac? Poopstuck?

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

31. Did you pay that bill ?

If so, can you un-pay it ? Dispute the charge if on your credit card. Is it too late to stop payment if paid by check ?

[parasim]

11. Some vets have been doing that for as long as I can remember.

When I was a kid, we had to drive my dog, injured from a hit and run driver, 150 miles to a good vet because the one we had before that was a quack (discovered when one of our cats was in a fight and the vet said oh, she'll be fine and threw on some bandages and sent her home... She died the next day) and my mom refused to go to him again.

[boppers]

13. Vet board, angie's list, craigslist

In that order. For starters:
https://www.nvvetboard.us/GLSuiteWeb/HomeFrame.aspx

[kestrel91316]

22. Slandering/libeling a vet or any other medical professional in a public forum

before one has prevailed in a legal case is an excellent way to lose a lawsuit for said slander/libel.

[boppers]

26. Hadn't thought about that.

Hat tip for the reminder.

[Kitty Herder]

14. My aunt had a similar experience.

My aunt took her cat to her friendly neighborhood veterinarian to have the cat spayed. He didn't spay the cat, just put in sutures. No one knew what had happened until the cat got pregnant. Some of my aunt's neighbors had the similar experience with the same vet.

It blows my mind.

I'm sorry this happened to your dog. I hope he's ok now!

[emilyg]

15. Report that crook.

[EFerrari]

18. That's got to be one of the worst things I've ever heard.

Thank goodness you took him to a different vet. :argh:

[Electric Monk]

24. That's cruel, and unusual.

The Vets I've known got into the business because they loved animals, not just for the money. Maybe I've been lucky that way.

[Iggo]

30. Call the cops.

Ain't that at the very least fraud?