calliecritturs
Posted : 8/10/2010 11:07:02 PM
Johnny&Tessy
Anyhow, enough of my ego rant. I asked the doctor what the deal was with the low result last night and told them how I only slept maybe 20 minutes total from being up all night worried sick thinking the worst. They said it could have been the blood draw OR analyser OR a slight possibility the number was right. I can say with 100% certainty this wasn't the case. I suggested that perhaps they should be owing me a free blood draw (CBC and Chem) or a refund due to these results and they were really quick to shoot this down. This really got the temper going. I kept my mouth shut thank doG ONLY because Sadie was glued to my legs and there was no need of stressing her from me argueing or yelling.
Am I wrong for wanting a refund or free draw???
You were absolutely right (and Dr. Dodds re-did ALL THREE DOGS BLOODWORK **entirely** and never charged me a cent). It just didn't make sense --
The problem *probably* is that you caught them in a mistake that almost caused a FURTHER mistake of an expensive and dangerous 'procedure' (transfusion) when it wasn't warranted.
However -- you'll get more flies with honey than vinegar -- so back into it tomorrow ... put it in writing to someone that you are more experienced than the average casual owner because you HAVE a dog who is an IMHA **survivor**. But you've learned very well what to expect from a dog who's got a 'crit of 11 -- and that she just was NOT acting that crashed. She didn't look it nor act it ... not the picture of health but you are too used to "looking for the symptoms" and you were just sure this wasn't adding up.
RAther than ask for a "free" blood draw -- simply ask them to "re-do" the next comparable draw to replace the one that was in error. I would subtly but definitely make the point that **because** you are experienced at this, you realize that altho properly timed a transfusion is definitely a life-saving thing ... but that you've been well "trained" to know not to rush it and that there are certain clinical signs that typically present ... etc.
You don't want to directly rub their noses in the fact that they screwed up -- BUT you can play the "Unfortunately I'm an experienced IMHA dog owner and this just didn't follow an appropriate pattern and I really felt I had to protect my dog ...."
You don't say you'll sue, or anything like that ... but just state your position and then tell them you want it re-done.
Is this the vet you've gone to historically or is this elsewhere? Sorry I know I'm missing info I should know!!!
AND p.s. --
the other thing you will want to point out is that you really didn't want to 'argue' this out loud because you did'nt want to stress your dog -- because it's also been your **experience** that that sort of stress can change things for the worse so you wanted to re-approach this when tempers cooled.