As society progresses in terms of animal welfare and awareness, our behavior as PET PARENTS also evolves. We become more demanding regarding everything that concerns our PET DOGS or PET CATS: from their food to pet-friendly spaces and finally, veterinarians.
For us, they are a member of the family, so we expect everyone who interacts with our pets to do so with respect, professionalism, and affection.
That's why it's surprising, though not entirely, that according to data from the Veterinary Professional Organization, complaints made by PET PARENTS against veterinarians have increased. Specifically, they have tripled in the last seven years.
There are several reasons for this increase. The main reason is that, as we mentioned, our concept of animals has transformed remarkably in recent years (it was about time!). Where there was once an object, in the eyes of the Civil Code, for example, we now have living beings. As alive as us. And in many cases, nobler than ourselves. Hence, there is a greater demand for medical results.
This paradigm shift has also led to an increase in the treatment of clinical cases. Something veterinarians didn't do half a century ago. When a dog had a serious illness, the recommendation was "to stop its suffering." Today, however, they undergo clinical and oncological studies, in the case of dogs with cancer, for example. We want our ARISTOPETS to be with us for as long as possible. We are willing to do whatever it takes; to pay whatever it takes and to exhaust all possibilities. Just as we would with a family member. Veterinary medicine also advancing plays in our favor. This is accompanied by an increase in hope, according to the Organization. And when that doesn't happen… it ends up becoming a weapon we throw at the veterinary staff themselves.
Complaints, according to this Organization, occur almost daily in the lives of veterinarians. And they are filed extrajudicially and judicially. This basically means that owners complain verbally to veterinarians. They express their discomfort or disagreement with the results... or the lack thereof. Something that has always been known as the "right to grumble" and that, for the first time, we are beginning to exercise openly with professionals who, for decades, no one had ever questioned. Judicial complaints are filed in consumer offices and also in civil courts. This route, of course, is much more aggressive and the consequences for the veterinarian are much more serious. They can lead to disqualification from practicing the profession, to financial penalties, and even imprisonment.
However, it should be noted that although complaints are increasing, they do so in a very low proportion compared to the number of consultations. And they suggest that one of the keys to avoiding problems of this type lies in communication. The client must know at all times the risks their pet is exposed to in order to make informed decisions.
Likewise, this news also highlights the value of those "trusted veterinarians" who are with our pets from the beginning and always work with affection, rigor, and professionalism. If you have one, value them. As often happens, finding a professional you can trust on all levels is a great stroke of luck.