Veterinary Malpractice lawsuits on the rise...

[moosmom]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...practice_x.htm

There go inexpensive veterinary charges!!

[Pit Chick]

Give me a break, you can't put a price on "emotional distress". Money isn't going to make the pain go away. There's a reason you have to sign a release form when your pet is going to have surgery, because hello, something could go wrong beyond the vet's control, just like with people.

[Cataholic]

Actuuuuuallllly, the reasons are a bit more technical than that. The sad fact is that most states recognize pets as chattel- property, and the recovery is limited to the value of the animal- i.e,. how much did it cost, or how much will it cost to get a replacement. I am all for raising the status of animals in our world. They aren't disposable items, and should be afforded more status. Maybe if they ARE afforded more status, then some of the ANIMAL ABUSE that happens in this world will be treated more seriously.

While everyone makes a mistake, some mistakes are deadlier than others. If a cashier makes a mistake, well, the damage is usually slight. Wrong amount of change, overcharged, etc.

If a doctor (be it people or animals) makes a mistake, the damages can be far greater. Why should someone not be held accountable for thier mistakes? What if they weren't up to date on the latest/safest way to medicate an animal or person? What if they were drinking the night before, and were sloppy?

Accidents are just that- accidents. Negligence is something else.

It isn't lawsuits that drive up malpractice rates. It is insurance companies that drive up malpractice rates. Malpractice cases are the hardest to win and the most expensive to try. The insurance companies do not settle. Next to never. So, if they don't settle, and never pay out..then, why is it that these malpractice cases are driving up rates? Seems like rates should be lower..since nothing gets paid out. It is hoopla. Hype.

[ramanth]

Mixed feelings about this....

[caseysmom]

If a veternarian messes up there should be something done to prevent them from doing it again. I do feel that our america has gotten way to sue happy...on the playground at my kids grade school I use to hear little second graders saying "you better not, I'll sue" it made me sick.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Cataholic


It isn't lawsuits that drive up malpractice rates. It is insurance companies that drive up malpractice rates. Malpractice cases are the hardest to win and the most expensive to try. The insurance companies do not settle. Next to never. So, if they don't settle, and never pay out..then, why is it that these malpractice cases are driving up rates? Seems like rates should be lower..since nothing gets paid out. It is hoopla. Hype.

Where do the judgements against surgeons come from?

From the insurance companies that cover them.

They HAVE TO RAISE rates in order to take on a court case and the lawyers who sue.


That "INSURANCE COST" is also passed along in the cost of implants, screws, pacemakers and all the Genuine Replacement Parts that companies like Baxter, Storz and J&J make.

The have to carry insurance for their products as well.

The insurance companies would rather fight than settle because that would open the flood gates to every sue/settlement happy person in the country.

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A stainless steel screw, one inch long, to put a bone back together costs about 70 dollars...

Just because it has a different head on it, you need a special bit and driver to place it and to cover all the lawsuits that have ever and will be filed against the manufacturer is the reason that a simple screw costs so much....

[Cataholic]

Richard,
Just as you, on occasion, talk about your experiences in the medical field, I will talk about my experiences in the legal field.

It IS hype. You would have to know the number of lawsuits brought (very, very low) against the number of those suits that prevail (very, very low) to fully understand the situation.

A huge difference in suing someone outside of the medical field vs. suing someone IN the medical field. The doctor would forever have a blemish on his record, and would have great difficulty in obtaining insurance AFTER that, and, possibly employment. The INSURANCE COMPANY makes that a sad reality.

Everyone is human. Everyone makes mistakes. To somehow say, "well, doctors (people or animal) don't..." is the problem.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Cataholic
Richard,
Just as you, on occasion, talk about your experiences in the medical field, I will talk about my experiences in the legal field.

I'd tell you about my experience in one of those hospital beds, you know, the kind with all the controls, but this is a family site and it wouldn't live up to the hype......

Speaking of hype....

Correct me if I am wrong....

But a isn't a surgeon named in a lawsuit, along with the component manufacturer, when something goes wrong???

The place I work for cannot be sued.

What we do is write out a check to the patient's family and the lawyer they hire.


Yes, suing someone in or out of the medical field is different.


Money will soothe all the "pain and suffering" in the world....

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And speaking of litigation...


I love the fact the there are lawyers that plan on suing NOAA and the Tsunami Center for the Pacific........Because they didn't tell the people in the Indian Ocean there was a giant wave coming to their shores.

Hype????


Naw, Money.

Even lawyers make mistakes.

[Cataholic]

Originally posted by RICHARD

Even lawyers make mistakes.

ABBBBBBBsolutely! That is why I have malpractice insurance.