Vet misdiagnosis

[hightail]

To a layman like me the two figures which I'd look for are BUN and Creatinine (may be shortened to Creatin). There should be others too but they're the ones my eyes would be drawn to if we were testing for CRF.

 

Don't know if this is helpful but a simple in-house blood panel at the vets should show your results and the 'normal' range.

Edited March 17, 2010 by hightail
adding info

[Undercover-Elsa]

Good point Hightail.

Here's a chart of normal values:

Reference Values

[hightail]

Great chart. Do you suppose ours vets dread seeing us walk in the door? I never get that impression at mine but I've always supposed that's because I make a substantial contribution to their shiny new car and holiday funds each year

[Undercover-Elsa]

LOL had that all my life - they don't like it if you have any knowledge at all. Unless you get a good one who's happy to discuss things in depth.

Same with Doctors - ideally you need to KNOW what's wrong with you before you go. I use 2 different GP's in my practice..one nice, biddable, vaguely gormless one who'll give me anything I ask for, for when I know what's wrong, and another not so nice, a bit feisty but very switched on, for when I don't know...

[James31]

Thanks for all the help. I pretty much have the full picture now, at least as much as I need to know for the purpose of my complaint.

 

I've written up the draft complaint for RCVS. It contains a number of serious issues (serial incompetence and neglect, defamation of another practice, manipulation of medical history, prescription of drugs without explanation or prior testing, improper record keeping, cover ups, etc).

 

Something interesting happened whilst putting it together also. There was such a vast array of info to go through, it wasn't so obvious before I put the doc together. It really appears as though our cat died due to toxicity caused by a drug prescribed 14 days prior to her death.

 

I have to tweak it here and there but I'm largely ready. The vet in question has not replied to my e-mail from last Thursday, so I e-mailed again last night to ask her to acknowledge it at least.

 

I only RCVS take it seriously.

[James31]

Solicitors letter arrived this morning, representing the vet!

 

They claim there has been no tampering with the medical notes, yadda yadda yadda.

[hightail]

How weird. Why does she think she needs a solicitor to write that letter? A solicitor only does what their client instructs so they've done as asked. Maybe she thinks a piece of headed paper will intimidate you.

[James31]

Indeed. There are 4 points in their letter, all of which I am about to p*ss all over in a reply.

 

See what they think about that.

[hightail]

Why even answer it? There's no point getting involved in a direct game of name calling with her. Get your reasoned complaint into the RCVS and let her answer to them.

[James31]

Only one reply, requesting information as I did previously. It is useful for my case.

 

My complaint is almost ready to submit.

[James31]

Hmmm, perhaps you are right. Maybe I should leave it. I keep thinking I need to get as much evidence as possible, but I guess that's the job of RCVS. I can't be sure.

[hightail]

I can't/wouldn't tell you what to do but if it were me I'd ignore any further correspondence from her and anything from a solicitor is from her just written by someone else. If anything I'd add a copy of the letter to your evidence to the RCVS.

[Undercover-Elsa]

Do you have something to prove there was missing data? eg a receipt / empty dated prescription bottle / witness statement etc?

[James31]

In terms of evidence, nothing concrete at the moment unfortunately. My wife sent personal e-mails to a friend an an aunty detailing the conversation the next day, and a couple of weeks later.

 

I have a receipt from the following day for a whole range of renal food and renal supplements (first order from that particular website). I am trying to find out from BT if I can obtain an incoming call log (they said no over the phone, so am writing to them).

 

The fact that CRF had been diagnosed is also contained within the notes of our old vet, but only having been passed on by us when we took the puss in for something unrelated, one weekend. I was hoping they might also have a faxed copy of the vets medical notes from that period, I am chasing this.

 

The missing data relates to a urine sample, the result of that sample and the call from the vet to us detailing the result (4 weeks to live). The sampe was performed on site, and was of a dip-test type so no records at a lab.

 

The last entry before the gap in the records says that a urine sample kit had been dispensed to us (she had to leave this in, it's on our invoice) and the following entry, 9 weeks later, records an incoming mail from my wife telling the vet how well the cat was doing. (Considering she was at that point, 5 weeks overdue for the reaper).

 

I spoke to the RCVS this morning who said that if there was a lack of evidence, they would need to form their own view as to whether or not the data was missing. They also said that whilst I couldn't insinst on obtaining call records from her telephone provider, what I *could* do was ask for the transcript of the phone call that apparently never took place, under the data protection act; which I think I might do.

 

With any luck, this dishonesty will be her undoing.

[James31]

Just remembered, I also ordered a headstone for our garden with our cats name on it. I have the receipt, it was ordered on the evening the vet called.

 

I had to re-order it this year, because it had the wrong year on it!

[Uncertain]

Hi James

 

A friend pointed me to your thread

 

I've been reading with interest and am sorry for your loss.

 

I'm not a pet owner and have no experience of vets. However I do have an interest in how professional bodies handle complaints. Some years ago I redesigned the process for my own professional body (in a totally different field) so have seen both sides of the fence as it were.

 

You might find this link interesting.......

 

vetpulse.tv? – vetpulse channel – RCVS - Disciplinary Committee

 

The site seems to host training videos and conference presentations for vets. I suspect it won't fill you with hope that they will do very much but it would be worth a look.

 

There may be more of interest on here - I've only looked at one other video as it cropped up when I Googled for a particular person!

 

I will keep an eye on this thread in case I can help.

[James31]

Complaint bundle sent to RCVS with loads of supporting documentation, e-mail, witness statements, etc.

 

I never replied to the solicitors in the end. It was the right decision so thanks to all who suggested it.

 

Now for a wait...

Edited March 20, 2010 by James31

[James31]

...now signed for.

[mazbck]

Good Luck James, I hope it all goes in your favour.

 

Maz

[Minkiesmum]

Hoping you get some sort of resolution. My dog lost an eye last year at a third vets after two others had had no idea what was wrong with it. I found it pretty disgusting as they were quick enough to take my money nonetheless !!

Perhaps it was always going to be that she'd have lost it but if the first two vets had known what they were doing, who can say ?

I think it's awful they can get away with giving me drops for her and still expecting me to pay £40+ each time for this privilege of having something that doesn't fix the problem......and then expecting me to pay a re-consultation fee to go back when they'd already said they had no bloody clue !!!

If you had a mechanic fix something on your car and it wasn't the correct diagnosis and the problem wasn't fixed you'd not expect to pay for it after all, would you ? But because it's "just" a pet it seems it doesn't matter........well, it does.

 

Love Lynda XX

[James31]

Quickie update... Had a reply from RCVS a couple of weeks ago. Upon reading our complaint, they have indentified 4 possible conduct issues.

 

The vet in question has now been asked for a written response.

[Minkiesmum]

I'll be interested to learn their response.....

 

Love Lynda XX:confused:

[hightail]

Quickie update... Had a reply from RCVS a couple of weeks ago. Upon reading our complaint, they have indentified 4 possible conduct issues.

 

Fantastic! At least you know they are taking this seriously. Even if they decide there isn't enough evidence to take it further it should make that vet very careful in future.

[12break3]

Can I join in or do I need to start my own thread ....

 

My dog is very very sick, he went to go for a general operation that couldn't be done and came out with a dibilertating illness that depending where you read its possibly terminal.

 

He has given me no facts, just a massive dose of storiods and to pop and see him in a few weeks time.

 

This illness has been misdiagnosed and they have failded not once, twice, three but four seperate checks from when he was a pup till now the age of 2.

 

This is a specialist area with diagnosis good on prompt action and medication immediately.

The vet gave me a verbal diagnosis on Friday morning. When I began to get upset as to the reasons of why no-one other than there bloody receptionist picked it up last year....as to the fact the his head and temples had strunk, sunken eyes, salivating and looked completedly different from his sister they have said it was normal and just his breed, until he was about to be operated, and his mouth just wouldnt' open he just said sorry.

 

I'm just besides myself; all this may read all over the place; that there about to take me down the route of the 'standard operation' in the future when his jaw has cleared up!!

A SAR needs to be sent but what would be the correct wording to them as someone has pointed out and get lists of all the telephone calls, the ordinary blood count seemed intersting.

 

 

They have just called, as I want all three practiniors in a meeting for Wednesday. This is down right cruelty as my dog is so ill and they have tried to lighten it by saying the illness is not going to kill him. The one Practactioner has just told me it's nothing to do with him, it's his partner and the other vet.

 

When I have explained the severity and if they had done any blood tests, he said that I was over re-acting and that once the 'lock jaw had been sorted then they would operate again shortly. They have just started on the 'we dont appear to have any information on on your dog.

 

Both dogs have had the usual 'puppy love' and what we thought was very top class veternary care ... to discover they dont know anything about it

 

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[pompeyfaith]

12break3 this terrible i think you should start your own thread so that yours and the OP's answers do not get mixed up PF