Veterinarian liability: advice and assistance

Questioner

Good day, A month ago, I had my dog's knee operated on by an animal orthopedist. He'd previously had the surgery on his other knee, so I didn't expect too many problems. When I checked the wound, I noticed some discharge that I had to pay attention to. I was told it was nothing serious. Within a few hours, his leg was swollen and swollen, and the stitches had burst. This resulted in a large, gaping hole, revealing the steel plates in his knee. I went to my own vet for advice and treatment because I didn't have a good feeling about the orthopedist. She took an x-ray and referred it to a specialist. The specialist reported that the surgery didn't appear to have been performed correctly and had a high risk of failure. He estimated that in the worst-case scenario, we'd be on antibiotics for 3-4 months, and then the knee would need to be operated on again. This isn't the best news, of course. I was also very disappointed that the surgery didn't seem to have gone well. Furthermore, a friend of mine had her dog operated on by the same orthopedist, and that dog is also experiencing significant discomfort. Now I'm wondering if I can get a refund from the orthopedist since the surgery was performed incorrectly. I'm also wondering if I can file a report somewhere. The circumstances in which I got my dog ​​back after the surgery weren't ideal either. He was lying in his own urine (with a fresh wound). Thank you very much in advance.

Questioner

You can hold the veterinary orthopedist liable if they have culpably failed to provide treatment, causing significant damage (suffering). In your case, I believe this is the case, supported by a statement from your own veterinarian stating that the surgery appears to have been improperly performed. You will, however, need to provide some evidence. After all, you should expect the necessary expertise from an orthopedist. If you wish, you can contact me directly for further assistance. Click the direct contact button next to this answer under my name.