On May 28, 1:19=A0pm, "Dale Atkin" <labrad...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> >Yes I am well aware of those issues and have already discussed it in
> >detail with our vet.
>
> Ok, sorry for babbling on ;). I made some assumptions from your OP that
I
> shouldn't have. My appologies.
>
> >I too have never been denied access to my
> >animals during procedures until my current vet,
> >The current vet, however, who is excellent in all other respects, has
> >had to plead helplessness to change the policy of a clinic that he
> >does not own and is not a partner of and can therefore not change the
> >policy on that matter.
>
> Assuming he's not lying to you, that is just so wrong. I would think
that
> should be at the vet's discretion, not at the clinic's. Anyone out there
> know if this is typically clinic policy, or the vet's own preference? I
> don't see why the clinic should have a policy like this, that the vet
isn'=
t
> allowed to overule.
>
> >So my original post was to test out the waters as far as other
> >people's experiences, in trying to decide whether I should go back and
> >attempt once again to negotiate with the office manager or actual
> >partners of the clinic.
>
> I'd talk to the practice owner. With your experience in pediatric
intensiv=
e
> care, there is no reason that you shouldn't be allowed where ever your
cat=
> goes (assuming you aren't a jerk :)! ).
>
> Dale
Yes, I plan to, as it is worth going to some effort to keep this vet.
In point of fact, I have an appointment tomorrow with him so she can
at least be examined, and I plan to waive the bloodwork altogether
because I need her to have a few bloodless visits to desensitize her
before I let anyone poke her again. I may as well do it at this
clinic as any other. Meanwhile I will pursue the issue and see if I
can get someone to negotiate.
Many if not all of the explanations and arguments I've heard on this
thread have been given to me by the clinic as the reason for their
policy, but they do not really address the main issue which is one of
advocacy. All the arguments are equally valid in human medicine, and
as another poster mentioned, the ER in particular is a good example of
a large area with multiple things going on and multiple patients and
drugs and Xrays everywhere and confidentiality issues (infinitely more
legally threatening) and yet, it is considered the nature of the beast
to learn how to handle that along with all the relatives and friends
who are in the ER with those patients, and all the parents who are, in
most cases, encouraged to stay with their children throughout even
some of the goriest procedures if they are up to it. Even though we
know full well we can get more cooperation out of a child when his
parents are not there to complicate the situation emotionally, in many
cases, though not all. The main reason for this permissive attitude
is that we must recognize the parents as the main advocates for their
children and therefore their right to be there. I see no reason why
this should not be true for one's pets.
As to the potential lawsuits from animals biting their owners, no one
really wanted to take into account that the risk management issue
regarding an animal biting is not one-sided, as I found out to my very
real detriment. The fact that it took place at home and not the
clinic isn't really relevant since any litigatious-minded pet-owner
would jump on the causation issue just as rapidly as an injury
happening onsite. Fortunately for them that is not my aim. I just
want to arrange a life for my cat of 15 years that is free of
unnecessary pain or terror. It is the least I can do for her in her
declining years. If getting bloodwork every six months to monitor her
hyperthyroidism is so traumatic it causes her to alienate herself from
me, and steer clear of everything including her medicine, then how is
keeping her alive in this fa****on even justified? She had the highest
thyroid levels this vet has ever seen, her electrolytes and thyroid
levels have been rock solid after treatment commenced two years ago,
and off meds, she would die a slow and painful death of wasting in
front of my eyes. I can think of better ends for my Luthien.
Thanks for the input.
--tension
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