Can You Sue Your Veterinarian for Malpractice?

For many people, pets are members of the family more than anything else. They are included in family discussions and even have a place at the dinner table. So what happens when you take your pet to the veterinarian and discover that he or she has received substandard care? Misdiagnosis, improper handling and other claims are made by disgruntled pet owners all over the country. Under most state laws, however, pets are considered property, so can you sue your veterinarian for malpractice?

The short answer to this question is "yes", you can sue your veterinarian for malpractice. Of course, it isn't really called malpractice, but gross negligence and other aspects of the law may apply. When your veterinarian is the cause of your pet's sickness, injury or death, you might want to be compensated, but there are a few factors you should consider. As mentioned above, pets are considered property in most states, which means that you can sue, but only for the market value of the animal. While your show-quality golden retriever might bring a few hundred dollars, your stray Siamese cat isn't going to result in any damages at all.

In some states, you could also sue your veterinarian for the cost of the care that he or she provided as well as any costs you incurred from another vet for fixing the resulting damage. For example, let's say that your veterinarian treated your dog for one disease when he actually had another. The treatment for an incorrect disease caused secondary medical problems, which had to be corrected by a second veterinarian. In some states, you could sue your first vet for the costs of both treatments as you are the wronged party.