On 27th April, the license of Santa Clarita veterinarian Dr Balpal Sandhu was revoked. The California Veterinary Medical Board ruled that Dr Balpal Sandhu had failed to comply with certain regulations and had committed acts of medical negligence and displayed unprofessional behaviour.
The board ruled that while treating his animal patients, Dr Balpal Sandhu committed several acts of negligence, incompetence, unethical conduct, and poor recordkeeping.
They stated that in his capacity as the managing licensee of AVVC (All Creatures, and Canyon Country) the accused failed to comply with regulations regarding radiation safety, sterility of surgery rooms and liability in controlled substance allowance logs.
The veterinarian operated three clinics the All Creatures Veterinary Center in Newhall, Canyon Country Veterinary Animal Hospital in Canyon Country and AV Animal Veterinary Center in Lancaster. All three clinics would be closed and their premises registrations revoked.
15 cases were filed against the vet out of which eight patients, two cats and six dogs were reported to have died due to medical issues and their subsequent treatment at the clinics mentioned above.
Every year millions of dollars are spent on the maintenance of pets and a majority of the spending is on veterinary bills. In 2016 more than $15 billion was spent on veterinary bills, presently pet owners are spending more than $18 billion every year on pet healthcare.
For many people, their pets are like a member of the family, just like their own baby. Hence taking care of their pets and ensuring their good health and safety is very important for pet owners.
What do you mean by veterinary malpractice?
Veterinary malpractice is similar to medical malpractice, except that the victims of the malpractice, in this case, are animals. If an animal is harmed killed due to the carelessness or negligence of the veterinarian, it is considered malpractice.
What should you do if you suspect your veterinarian has committed malpractice?
If you believe that your pet has been injured or killed due to the negligence of your veterinarian you should complain to the state veterinary licensing board. For California residents, you need to file a formal complaint with California Veterinary Medical Board.
The State licensing boards will review the complaint and accordingly suspend or revoke the veterinarian’s license. You can also file a lawsuit against the veterinarian in a court of law. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help negotiate a settlement for you or file a lawsuit on your behalf.
The current law views an animal or pet as an item of personal property. Hence some courts limit the compensation amount to only the cost of replacing the pet animal with another animal.
However, many courts have started to recognize that a pet is not just a possession. It is like family to most people. They cannot simply be replaced. Courts have now started to give out larger compensations keeping in mind the intrinsic value of the pet and not just their economic value.
An experienced lawyer can give you the correct advice and guidance with regards to filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against a veterinarian.
We at Khashan Law have experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers in California who can represent you and help you receive justice and due compensation from the guilty medical practitioners. Contact us for a free consultation at (951) 461-2387.