Law & Ethics

Tampa, Fla.- As veterinary officials stymie a Colorado bill granting pet owners up to $100,000 for loss of companionship claims, nationwide debate concerning the legal status of pets brews. One by one, America's courts are considering emotional distress and wrongful death lawsuits as pet owners and trial lawyers attempt to raise the value of pets to more than property - a move promising to alter how the country practices and pays for veterinary care.

The initial two articles in this series on associate employment contracts dealt primarily with legal details of the contract; contract periods, renewal provisions and other esoteric elements that are commonly ignored when a new associate is considering a job offer.

CDC has recipe for 'purer' horse vaccine; canines may gain from research

Pay close attention to deadlines, dates and expirations

Management of perianal fistula has been a challenge for pet owners and their veterinarian. Treatment has historically been surgical debridement combined with long courses of antibiotics.

There are a host of decisions and options facing newly graduating veterinary students as they work through their final year.

Dallas-Texas state and federal officials smothered a tularemia outbreak in captive prairie dogs.

Veterinarians who are preparing to enter into partnerships are usually thinking one main thought, "We are going to make such great money and I can't wait to be able to share the workload."

Second in a three-part series

DVM Newsmagazine readers who have seen my articles in the past know that as an attorney and business counselor, I am very conservative in recommending veterinary partnerships.

Columbus-A leading veterinary neurologist, equally celebrated and denigrated for his progressive study of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), is departing The Ohio State University (OSU). Expected to leave this summer, Dr. Michael Podell - regarded as a "highly brilliant" veterinary clinician and investigator - says his decision to leave is three-fold,

If Dr. Franklin McMillan, companion animal practitioner in Los Angeles, had his wishes, he would never hurt an animal's feelings.

As we mentioned last month, the best way to protect assets that have accumulated over a lifetime has a great deal to do with the perceived threats.

As seasoned veterinary practitioners, we pretty much come to expect the unexpected.

CDC official takes hard look at who's being bitten and why; children greatest fatalities

Last time we reviewed a number of issues concerning situations where veterinarians and their local or state governments come into conflict.

Knowing how to 'work' muni government reaps rewards

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has appointed a recent Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine grad as a veterinary medical officer.

Researchers at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have teamed with the University of Alabama and Rutgers University to study and identify specific types of mosquitoes most likely to transmit the West Nile virus.

Workers' compensation is not a particularly riveting topic. Financially, however, it is very significant to every veterinary practice, its staff members and, ultimately, to clients.

Last week I received a phone call from a veterinarian who had purchased a puppy and had a problem.

In the first two articles in this series on non-competition contracts, we saw the extent to which failing to be specific or failing to be cautious can work to the disadvantage of both parties to such an agreement.

New York-Animal News Center, a not-for-profit organization promoting animal welfare, has created a new Web site featuring stories on pets and wildlife as well as editorials on animal-related issues.

In last month's article, we looked at various ways to free-up more of the veterinary clinic budget by saving on discretionary legal and accounting fees.

In last month's article, we looked at various ways to free-up more of the veterinary clinic budget by saving on discretionary legal and accounting fees. This month, I will point out some beneficial ways to spend some of that free cash in order to maximize the economic productivity of the practice.

There is one thing that a good accountant and a good attorney have in common with a good priest and a good bartender. Each, if doing his job properly, is more than willing to listen intently to the problems of others in a caring and non-judgmental way.

A few weeks ago I got a call from a client with whom I had spent a good deal of time explaining the benefits and disadvantages of being named the executor of her mother's will.

Covenants never clear-cut, but give practice owners limited protection

Many of the comments I received about my recent series on non-competition agreements related to non-competes and partnerships.

As we discussed in February, this series is covering issues relating to non-competition agreements where there are almost always hidden issues involved when a veterinarian agrees to limit the scope or location of his or her right to practice his or her profession.