Is there a code of ethics for veterinarians? Please read my situation?

Question

Ok this is a little long but I need to know what to do about this veterinarian. I am infuriated! I was at a rodeo and one of the horses was in the arena to chase the bulls back through the out-gate they weren't roping the bulls, just using the horse as a chaser to show the bulls where the out-gate was. Needless to say... One of the bulls gored the horse with his horn in the stomach. The horse was bleeding bad. So i held bandaging on it to help stop the bleeding. in the meantime I had called my veterinarian (an emergency call) and he refused to come and assist this horse because he was not a regular (patient) of his. So I called another vet in the area and she came out right away and saved this horse. What can I do to this vet I feel I need to file a complaint with the State board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. What do you think??

Answer 1

I certainly understand your outrage, however I really don't think your vet has any professional obligation to treat an animal that is not his/her patient just because you called.  It is nice when vets volunteer to help out in emergencies, but this vet was not even present at the rodeo. All vets can't be expected to be on call for all veterinary emergencies that may occur anywhere 24/7.  So, I don't think you have a legitimate complaint to register.  I'm glad you found a vet who was willing to come, despite her having no real obligation to do so.

EDIT..in light of the additional information you've provided, indeed I do think a complaint should be filed, but not against the vet you called.  Rather, the vet that was obligated to be present at the rodeo is implicated in shirking his/her duties in this situation.

Answer 2

According to the AVMA, veterinarians have a choice in whether they will help a suffering animal or not (however barbaric this may appear). In section E of the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics it says "Veterinarians may choose whom they will serve. Both the veterinarians and the client have the right to establish or decline a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (See Section III) and to decide on treatment. The decision to accept or decline treatment and related cost should be based on adequate discussion of clinical findings, diagnostic techniques, treatment, likely outcome, estimated cost, and reasonable assurance of payment. Once the veterinarians and the client have agreed, and the veterinarians have begun patient care, they may not neglect their patient and must continue to provide professional services related to that injury or illness within the previously agreed limits." Hope this helps.

Answer 3

You should not seduce any animal....

Answer 4

Your vet is not obligated to see any horse. A lot of times they do this because they don't want to be tied up on a call for a horse they don't normally treat when one of their regular patients really needs them. So your vet may have had a reason not to come see this horse. If he didn't come just cuz he didn't want to, I would question it, but in the end it is his call and you can't expect him to come see a stranger's horse even though most people would agree with you that he should have. I'm glad the horse is okay.  

Answer 5

I can understand your frustration, but while this vet's conduct might not have been ethical, I do not think it was illegal.

I cannot speak about the vet world, but I can speak about human health care since I'm a nurse.  I do not think that a doctor is obliged legally to come and treat someone that is not their patient, not matter how serious the case is.  Once treatment has been started it is probably considered "abandonment" if the doctor stops without finding the patient another doctor, but if they haven't started care this does not exist.

Many family doctors are so overworked they refuse to take on new patients, no matter how difficult it may be for them to find a physician.  I know this is not illegal.  So if a doctor may refuse care of a patient, I cannot see how its illegal for a vet to refuse care of a new patient, either.

You cn talk to the Vet medical board and get their opinion, I certainly am not a lawyer or even an expert on human health care.  But I suspect that all you'll get for your effort is a big phone bill and a headache.  You can also express your disappointment to your vet with a simple note, but be aware that unhappy people often don't work so well for you.  So if you complain you may be out a vet yourself.

Also, in the vet's defense, we don't know his situation.  Perhaps he felt overwhelmed by the difficulty of the case and knew he wasn't the best person for the job.  Perhaps he'd been on call for the last 24-48 hours (which certainly happens to my poor local rural vet) and he physically could not care for another animal.  Perhaps he already had calls to attend to and another animal would have suffered if he'd left them to attend to the injured horse.  I don't know - this might be a big stretch, but I'm just saying that without a discussion we don't know why he choose to refuse this horse.  If you truely feels he's a jerk and uncaring, then you probably don't want him as your vet, anyhow.

Answer 6

I think you have every right to be angry, but by law they don't have to see a animal, weather it's your, a friends, a stray, or so one they have the right to refuse, but I can't see why he did, it says to me that he really doesn't care?  You can file a complaint and see what happens.  If I were you I would find a not so heartless vet for my girl:)  Best of luck and what a lucky horse and for you to be there.  What happend with the owner of the horse?  Did they thank you and cover the bill?  I'm sure he was concered with who was going to pay, but still he needed to be more caring or at least could have fibbed and said I'm so sorry, but seeing how I'm currently working on a emergency and this isn't my client you need to try another vet.  But just to say "sorry about your back luck", in a way that sucks.

Answer 7

I, too, wonder why there was not a vet on site for the rodeo. Was there human medical personnel? If not, I would be upset with the organizers of the rodeo and report them to the sanctioning body.

To not have Veterinary and Medical personnel on hand for an event like that is unconscionable.

Edit:  The vet that was working the rodeo should NOT have left, even for an emergency. That vet should have made arrangements for someone else to take emergency calls. Having the vet leave like that would be like the medical personnel leaving for an emergency. If they leave, the event comes to a standstill, because the risk of an accident on site without immediately available emergency help is too great.

Answer 8

My vet is hesitant to come out to treat an unknown horse because he has been burned so many times and not been paid.  He has spent time and money at the fairgrounds saving some guys colicky horse and when presented with the bill the guy denies ownership of the animal and can't give clear direction to where the bill should be delivered.  In the meantime while the vet and his assistant are tied up with this guy he could get called out by a regular patient (like me) with an emergency and not be able to make it.  Personally, I don't blame the first vet.  Rodeos and large horse shows should have a pre-arrangement  with a "show vet" on call.

Answer 9

I really understand your frustration...calling in someone that you've had experience with and trusted.  

On the other hand, being the devil's advocate, why wouldn't a sanctioned show have an on-site vet in case of emergencies? Any horse show that I've attended..albeit not a rodeo, has professional medical staff on duty for these unforseen emergencies. Were there human medical people there?, Just in case....?

Another thing, malpractice might have been another issue...not wanting to work on a horse where they were unfamiliar with its' history?  And, if you were just there as a spectator, where were the horses owner and their vet to call in this situation?  

I'm glad that you finally were able to get this guy the medical attention needed and all turned out well...thanks to you and your assertiveness and thinking.

Personally though, I have a problem with the grounds for not having someone there if an actual rodeo or a practice rodeo.  People need to think twice and have all bases covered and the foresight of what can happen before doing potentially dangerous manuevers or partaking in this sport, knowing of the dangers and have a plan of action ready, just in case.

Instead of reacting and calling and reporting, I would be more proactive to make sure this doesn't happen in the future.  You certainly have the proof to prove your point.

****EDIT****

Thanks for the addt'l. info!!...BUT NOW, I feel "their" hands should be slapped for being hired to be at a certain place,  and "they" weren't there when needed....I would say the producers should think twice if their "on location vet"  felt the need to leave without proper back-up after committing to be there.  Hopefully nothing would have happened and they would have enjoyed and just watched the activities the whole night but,  the fact they they weren't there when "they" were needed, is far worse than your vet not going.  

Sounds like murphy's law to me.  When you least expect it, expect it...JMHO

Answer 10

The vet you called can refuse calls all day if they wish, nothing you can do.

Answer 11

One thing a came to terms with when it comes to medical doctors of any kind, they real don't care on a personal level when it comes to helping the injured or sick. All (most not all) they care about is $$$$$

Edit: your additional detail prove my point, a vet that is hired to work at the show should not of left with out having a replacement. Many of us have a lot of money invested in are horses and when we enter events like this, with the understanding that a vet is on duty, then there should be one on duty.

You need to report this to someone and that vet should be sued.

Answer 12

While it was his right not to attend the emergency, ethicly he has tarnished his image refusing the job.

You could file a complaint if you wanted to but it will probably be thrown out.

Answer 13

If you feel so strongly about this, lodge the compliaint. Make a full note of the conversation you had with the vet. I suspect he will get a verbal slap on the wrist if anything. I don't know whether vets are obligated to answer emergency calls if horses are not their patients. In any event, the fact you got another vet out and the horse is ok will probably mitigate his situation. In the UK, the Royal College of Vet. Surgeons has a code of practice and a procedure for complaining. You probably have something similar over there. It may be that this vet had a prejudice about horses being used in this way?