Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    I was sickened when I read this note.  I cannot believe that they
    charged you for being present.  In my experiences this is definately
    not the norm.  Not only did my vet not charge for me being "present",
    he told me to stay with Zach as long as I needed to to say my goodbyes.
    I was in that room with him for a minimum of ten minutes after he died.
    I have an extremely loving, caring and sensitive vet.  The pain
    on his face through the entire experience was a refelection of my own.
    

    sounds like a vet I'd love to have........I'd be tempted to write 
    a letter to the local paper.

    The vet's name may not be posted in this file.  If you would like more
    information about this situation, send mail to the base noter or get in
    touch with her off-line.  
    
    Jo 

    I'm so sorry that you had to be exposed to this insensitivity - I've
    never heard of such a thing.
    
    Ms. Balzer, you and I sure are lucky!
    
    Giudi

      I was shocked too!   That really is insensitive, and not the norm.
    Hope you can find a new vet.  My vet allowed me and my kitties plenty
    of "goodbye" time when I had to have 3 of them put down over the course
    of 6 months due to FELV.  I certainly wasn't charged for the use of the
    room or my presence, only the shot.
    
      Denise and the gang of 11

    I called again and they said that
    they wouldn't refund my money because that charging was the 
    common practice.  

    Is this common practice?
    
     
        I do not know where you are living, but I have had to have
        three cats put to sleep at three different veterinary clinics
        in the Boston metrowest area. I was present for all of them. I
        was not charged for being present.

        It is difficult not to respond emotionally to this posting.

        Here are my personal opinions:

        It is an ethically questionable practice to add a charge to a
        procedure without explaining before hand that this will
        happen. Begging the question with a summary "It's common
        practice." is a way of avoiding one's professional
        responsibilities.

        To charge for this service makes one wonder what the value
        added was: Are more personnel present? Is more consideration
        for the animal shown during the procedure to spare the owner's
        sensibilities? Are different techniques used that are more
        costly? Is the owner-absent procedure done perfunctorily (and
        therefore cheaply) because there can be no follow-up
        complaints about poor service? Or is placating an owner's
        emotional attachments so annoying that the veterinarian must
        be adequately compensated for this waste of their time?

        If the last, is the physician aware that it is this
        attachment that provides them with customers to charge in the
        first place?
    
        Despite the inadequate "It's common practice." this incident
        points up the difference between private practice and
        institutional practice. This disregard for a person's feelings
        during an incredibly painful moment indicates that this
        practitioner might better serve their profession in a
        situation where they needn't deal with people.

        Jack Wickwire

    re .7
    
    JACK,
    
    Very tactfully worded.  I don't know if I could have been so tactful.
    
    I had my Keisha put down and the vet and assistants were very helpful
    and caring.
    
    They set up a time when it would be just Keish and I.  No other
    patients were coming in at that time.
    
    They came into the room with us and told Keisha how loved she was by
    both them and me.
    
    They waited until I was *ready* before they administered the lethal dose.
    
    They left me in the room with Keisha until I was *ready* to leave.
    
    They sent a follow-up card letting me know they cared.
    
    Not once was I pushed around or made to feel that this was out of the
    ordinary.  Nor was I charged for *being in the room*.
    
    When the vet said this was common practice, I wonder if he meant common
    practice for all vets or for just him.  So far, I haven't seen anyone
    stating that their vet charges for this *added service*.
    
    My personal opinion is to find another vet.
    
    Sandi, Mom to the Storm Troopers
    
    

    That's really sick.....I would consider changing vets!!!
    
    We had to have my Taffy put down a few years ago....and as my
    husband sat there and cried...the vet had a few tears in his
    eyes as well.   When my husband asked "how much"...the vet
    looked and said "I can't charge you for that".   I know that
    is not the Norm either.....but I can't believe he charged you
    extra for being in the room.   
    
    Sandy

    Some other vets may add a similar charge, but might call it an "office
    visit" charge.
    
    Jo

    I had been using this vet hospital for as long as it's been there.
    In the last few years the business was sold to a new vet and I just
    continued on with her.  When it was previously owned and I had to 
    have a cat put down they (the previous vets there) couldn't have
    been nicer.  In fact, a week or so after I had a cat put down I 
    received a card from them letting me know that they had donated
    funds to Tuft's research department in my cats name.  Back then 
    you could really tell they cared.
    
    I should have known better when six months ago a friend of mine called
    me upset that her cat was sick.  We took the cat to the same vet and
    we knew that cat had to be put down  even before we walked into the 
    office the cat was that sick.  The vet without even asking if she
    wanted to be present brought out the needle and bottle and started
    to inject the cat.  I quickly stopped him and told him that my friend
    was in no condition to be present for this and to please wait until
    she leaves the office.  I thought at the time how inconsiderate that
    they didn't even ask.  
    
    I'll never go back.  I heard that one of the old vets (Dr. P) is working
    in an animal hospital in a nearby town.  Next time I need a vet I'll
    find him.
    
      

    The bill read like this:
    
    Office visit  $20.00
    Euthenasia     15.00
    Euthenasia         
     with owner
      present      20.00
                 --------
    Total         $55.00
    
    As I mentioned in my previous note my friend also had her cat put down
    by the same vet office and her charge was $35.00 (office visit - 20 
    and Euthenasia 15).

    I would go to another vet and try to put this unpleasant experience
    out of your mind.   This vet clearly belongs in some other occupation
    where he has no contact with either people or animals.
    

    That is just too wild!  I agree with Karen, try to put it behind you
    and find yourself another vet, this time a caring, people oriented,
    customer service oriented one.  
    
    Jo

    My vet cares so much about animals, that his philosophy is:
    
    "If I charged as much as ---, people wouldn't take care of their
    animals.  Animal care is first and foremost in my mind.  I can't
    believe --- is teaching their students to charge that much...Vet care
    must be affordable above all else."  
    
    And he's a wonderful Doc. besides!
    

    
    
        $55!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
        If this matter isn't solved to your satisfaction, PLEASE CONSIDER
        A MORE CARING DOCTOR!!

    I like the idea of writing a letter to your local paper concerning
    this vet's practices.  You might even call around to a number of
    local vets and ask them if they charge extra for owner present.
    You can then dispute the "common practice" explanation with facts.
    
    Then, I'd find another vet!  I'd send a copy of the letter you send
    to the newspaper to your vet.  Maybe she'll smarten up.
    
    BTW - I don't know if Zach was on a previous Silver Lining Memorial
    list so I've added his name to this quarter's list.
    
    I am so sorry to hear of your loss and for the insensitive way in
    which it was handled.  Why do people go into such careers when they
    obviously can't handle 1/2 the job.
    

    
    	...of course, you should send a copy to the American Veterinary
    	Medical Association....(ie licensing board)...
    
    	Sherry
    

    
    
    NDC, Zach was on a previous SLM listing along with Chloe.
    
    

What a horrendous experience.  I've heard that the latest trend
in disreputable veterinary care is itemizing bills to the max in
order to reap maximum $$$ (i.e. charging for 1 day of boarding if 
an animal is in for a flea dip and owner doesn't wait in clinic until 
job is completed) but this is going much too far.  I'm glad that you
disputed the charge - and I hope that other unsuspecting clients
will do the same.

Shawn

    Not to take this note in a complete other direction, but I agree with a
    vet charging a day of boarding if an owner leaves the cat at the vet's
    all day for bathing, flea dipping.  The reason is because I have worked
    at a vet's office, and during the day while the animal is not being
    worked on, it is put in a kennel with food, water, litter box and
    bedding.  When that animal leaves, the kennel must be thoroughly
    disinfected, the water bowl, food bowl and litter box must be
    disinfected, and the bedding washed and dried.  This is to ensure that
    the cat does not get exposed to other illnesses while there, and that
    he cannot leave traces of illnesses around for future boarders to pick
    up.  The $5-10 boarding charge seems fair to me.
    
    Jo

my vet didn't even charge me for euthanizing Nicky, I was so upset, they also
let me stay with him for approx. 20 minutes.  I cannot believe that a vet
would charge for your presence - and I would not trust a vet that would not
allow you to be present.  That is totally bogus.

        We checked with our Vet asking about putting our dog down. 
    (sometime in the future, if needed).  They asked me how I would like it
    done.  They has a list of things, and a price for everyone of them.
    You can bring the dog/cat in for euthanizing.
    You can stay with him.
    You can have him cremated.
    You can have the ashes.
    You can have him buried.
    You can even have a few friends for a funeral.
    But.....everything has a price.
    There are those vets who will also use the body after for
    experimentation if you don't bury or cremate it.
    
    I would agree with the rest of you, you would expect a little
    sensitivity for a doctor (vet).