another strike-off scenario

Re: another strike-off scenario

Virginia Campbell — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 23:06:32 GMT

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]As long as we can justify our decision, [/quote] to somebody else's standards that you're not allowed to know about before the event[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]I don't think we have anything to worry about.[/quote]

I think you're right. I don't expect the RCVS would ever comment on hypothetical what-if scenarios; and they're not going to publish ultra detailed rules with defined measurable limits (probably a good thing ...see Richard's "be careful what you wish for" post) so we just have to calmly accept that there's a small risk we might be pushed off a professional cliff someday through no hugely criminal fault of our own and get on with it.

For me, reading about the Chikosi case has been a bit like reading the VDS newsletter in that I've been thinking "umm...I can see how something like that could happen to me". Except reading the VDS newletter you usually get the comforting feeling that they will help you make it all better unless you're downright cruel or hopelessly incompetent, and it's usually a happy ending with nobody getting struck off.

For anyone who reads every issue of the VDS newsletter and read about the Chikosi case always thinking "Well that could NEVER happen to me"....stay perfect, and stay lucky. Goodnight all.

Re: another strike-off scenario

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 21:53:26 GMT

Well said Tess and Thomas!

Re: another strike-off scenario

Thomas Johnson — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 17:15:26 GMT

[quote user="tess"]

I've been reading all these threads with interest over the last few days and am noticing a common theme, and it's that the word "if" is cropping up a lot. We can hypothesise about every situation we are in and all the possible scenarios. Most if the time the worst never happens. All we can do is judge each situation on its merit, and do what we think is right at the time. If it goes horribly wrong we should be prepared to defend our decision based on what was actually happening, and not what might happen in the future.

[/quote]

I agree completely. We are professionals and have to use our professional judgement in difficult situations. As long as we can justify our decision, even if it turns out in hindsight that we might not have made the best decision, I don't think we have anything to worry about. And I don't think the Chikosi case changes that.

Re: another strike-off scenario

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 16:23:48 GMT

[quote user="Virginia Campbell"]My question is, "Would you get struck off for not going?"[/quote]

It's not really a question because if they needed me I would go. End of the discussion really.

Re: another strike-off scenario

tess — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 16:00:47 GMT

I have, in the past, contacted the vet of the client directly out of hours, to ask if they are refusing to see a case (out of professional courtesy, of course ) . This is usually met with an agreement to see it, or the discovery that the clients have never tried in the first place. That way, if you do end up seeing it, you can't be accused of poaching someone else's client, and you're giving the other vet a gentle reminder of their responsibility.

The job is stressful enough and I think we're in danger of making it more so, by imagining the worst that can happen (and this comes from a born worrier who has had to learn to actively switch off at the end of the day!).

Re: another strike-off scenario

Virginia Campbell — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 15:26:16 GMT

My question is not "Would you go?" (after all, who doesn't love a good torch lit Caesar with hailstones belting into the wound and drifting up on your instrument tray, as long as you get a live calf)

My question is, "Would you get struck off for not going?"

Re: another strike-off scenario

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:03:04 GMT

Virginia I'm another who has experience of Radnorshire sucklers!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, the lambing/calving season took the definition of exhaustion to another level-but we never delayed treatment for spurious reasons.

Micheal. Again,in the traditional practices, we helped other veterinary surgeons. I can think of two examples. The first was during exceptionally severs weather, with heavy snow,which stayed for nearly a week. With many of the farms, we had to leave the car onthe main road, and walk through drifts. My boss and the senior partner of the other practice carved the area into two halves. In order to avoid unnecessary criss-crossing,and so getting a veterinary surgeon to the farm in minimum time, the farmers weren't given a choice of practice-they took whichever practice dealt with their section-and they were grateful for our common-sense appraoch.

The second was when a sheep shed went on fire during lambing. Veterinary surgeons from 4 practices were there performing euthanasias

Wynne

Re: another strike-off scenario

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 01:22:36 GMT

If not a client direct them back to their own practice first. I have been known to ring the other practice myself to see if they are slammed. We help out neighbours a few times per year and it is always appreciated.

If they either won't ring other vet (for some reason), or the other vet cannot attend promptly then I'd go and do the caeser.We have 3 prices for caesers on the computer, straightforward, moderate and difficult. 'Difficult' is a variable price procedure. I would be heavy with the pen, but with considerable change from a million pounds!

I have to say I do enjoy a good caeser - one of those jobs where the feeling afterwards of satisfaction is practically unbeatable. Nothing small animal wise comes close.