California Veterinary Specialist SO CALLED EMERGENCY HOSPITAL, THEY WAIT FOR A FULL STAFF BEFORE THEY OPERATE, THEY DO NOT TELL YOU THE TRUTH! Ontario, Murrieta and Carlsbad Internet, California

Your story is just heart-rending. The vet calling you wanting to "learn from this experience so that he could do things differently next time" is absolutely, sickeningly abhorrent. I would have been beyond outraged. You paid for his negligence with your dog's life, why should you also provide him with a vet school refresher? Selfish & tone-deaf beyond words. I just can't imagine your grief. I hope you find some kind of peace eventually. I just can't imagine the pain you've endured over this.

I've seen your story in a few of the places where I've posted mine & you're doing a good job & will undoubtedly save another dog, so keep it up! And ignore this pompous "Patty" person who didn't have the same experience, species, condition, doctor, or situation but still thinks she is somehow relevant. Eyes on the prize, the beautiful Mollie's legacy. 

Thank you Chuck for your condolences and words of advice.

I have done just that and am waiting for my letter back from the board with their decision.
Keeping my promise to Mollie to do whatever I can so that others don't suffer the way she did.
Thank goodness for social media - it helps to spread the word.

Thank you again for taking time to read my post and for your good wishes.

Julie

I am very sorry for your loss. Unfortunately I too know the anguish and pain of losing my dog while under the care of a specialty hospital. If you truly believe that there was malpractice, have the facts to support it, and want to prevent others from experiencing the same fate as your poor Mollie, then I highly recommend that you file a complaint with the California Veterinary Medical Board:

http://www.vmb.ca.gov/consumers/comp_inf.shtml#filing

It's not a difficult process but be warned that it is a long and drawn out one.  After filing the board will review your case and get back to you with their results. This can take many months, but hang in there. It takes quite a while due to the number of cases they have to review and staffing issues, but it may provide you with some satisfaction.

If you haven't already, ask (or demand) that all records and paperwork from CVS be sent to you by snail mail or email, and be ready to present those papers to the board. Good luck, and again I am so sorry for your loss.

I am not associated with them.  I live in Florida, am a Vice President of a bank and rescue rabbits.

Patti

I don't need to see your explanation form a veterinary website - I due understand what happens when a gallbladder ruptures. WHAT YOU MUST HAVE MISSED IS THEIR DECISSION ON WAITING TO OPERATE UNTIL THEY HAD A FULL STAFF. 
They claim to be an EMERGENCY HOSPITAL!   However, since you posted that, WHY DIDN'T THEY PERFORM SURGERY
AGAIN to place drains to allow the infection to efficiently drain from her body?  This is usually done at the discretion of the surgeon.  Once again showing the incompetence. Signs of peritonitis are weakness, rapid respirations, vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhea, everything she had.  These SPECIALIST SHOULD HAVE RECGONIZED THIS AS PERITONITIS. Here is
another post from a Vet website !

"The patient may suffer mental confusion, fever, prostration, or shock.  Although antibiotics have greatly reduced the mortality rate of acute peritonitis, the infection should be treated and controlled immediately; it can be fatal if
neglected".

ONCE AGAIN I WILL SAY THESE SPECIALIST ARE UNETHICAL, INCOMPETENT AND NEGLIGENT

As far as the refund you can applaud them, I see it as GUILT.  Oh and how nice were they to call with their condolences - Dr. Osmond, said he wanted to learn from this and do things differently next time.    Well you should take your pet there Patti Maybe you don't mind having your pet be an experiment. !!   

It is quit obvious you are affiliated with these so called professionals.   Nice Try Patti!

NO NEED TO DEFEND THEM    ! OH AND BY THE WAY - I WILL NOT STOP WITH RIPOFF.COM !!

I'm sure in your grief that you consider your dog's treatment less than satisfactory; however, it doesn't really appear to be.  this is an excerpt from a veterinary website:

Emergency surgery is necessary if the gallbladder has ruptured or a patient has septic peritonitis. Surgery is also indicated if a dog is clinically compromised or has evidence of extrahepatic biliary duct obstruction, but the patient may need to be stabilized with fluids, intravenous antibiotics (Table 2), antiemetics, and analgesics before anesthesia.21 Time to stabilization will vary greatly for each patient and may require one to three days.

I'm sorry your outcome was not positive, but it happens and can't always be attributed to malpractice. I, too, have had precious pets die at the vets.  I applaud the vet for refunding your money (they were under no obligation to do that) and also for the vet personally calling you.

It sounds like you are lashing out in your grief and I hope your heart heals in time.