Question

In which of the following situations would the veterinarian not be held liable for damages?

a. During rectal palpation, a mare becomes excited and fractious and her rectum is torn, resulting in peritonitis and death.
b. A dog escapes from a clinic's outdoor run and is never seen again.
c. A 2-year-old child opens a Ziploc bag that contains medication for a dog, eats several tablets, and is poisoned.
d. An animal dies as a result of the client's not following written directions relating to treatment.

Answer 1

The veterinarian would generally not be held liable for damages if an animal dies as a result of the client not following written directions relating to treatment (option d).

Step-by-step explanation:

In considering the situations where a veterinarian would not be held liable for damages, it's important to evaluate the circumstances closely. For option a, if the procedure was performed according to accepted standards and the injury was a rare, unforeseeable complication, then the veterinarian might not be liable.

On the other hand, for situation b, the veterinarian could be liable for negligence if the clinic did not properly secure the outdoor run. In scenario c, liability may depend on whether the medication was left within easy reach of a child, suggesting negligence on the part of the person who left it unsecured.

Lastly, in option d, the veterinarian generally would not be held liable if an animal dies as a result of the client not following the provided written directions relating to treatment, assuming these instructions were clear and appropriately communicated.

Hence, the answer is option d.