Your Risks
Professional
Claims against members of the profession alleging professional negligence represent almost half of all claims received for the veterinary profession. When examining the underlying causes of claims / complaints, a number of common factors can be identified. It is often far more than the clinical outcome that gives rise to a claim or complaint. In the instance of a poor or unexpected outcome, it is often the manner in which the outcome is managed or communicated that determines if an owner will seek to claim. In minimising the risk of claims and complaints and thereby protecting your professional reputation and that of the practice, the following should be considered
Communication
Communication is significant in its contribution to professional liability claims / complaints.
Owner expectations
The way in which you establish and manage customer expectations has an influence on the likelihood of a loss occurring either through a complaint or claim against the practice.
Consent
There is an increasing need to obtain consent for the care applied to animals.
Records
The quality of the records you keep are important for your ongoing clinical care
Remote / Isolated work
Over the years we have had a number of serious claims occurring on remote properties that were ultimately shown to be the responsibility of the vet in attendance at the time.
