The Basics of Veterinary Malpractice Insurance
The Basics of Veterinary Malpractice Insurance

Veterinary Malpractice Insurance

If you are a veterinarian, veterinary technician or even assistant you may need some kind of veterinary malpractice insurance. It is the same type of thing as it would be if you were a doctor or nurse for humans. Pet owners are just as likely to sue for malpractice as human patients are. Malpractice is defined as negligence that results in harm, or wrongful doing that results in harm. Basically, it means harm caused either intentionally or unintentionally. The vast majority of all cases fall in the unintentional category.

There are also con artists who file fake, fraudulent and frivolous lawsuits in the hopes of a big cash settlement. Sometimes the legal system works as it should and these scammers are recognized and prosecuted, but sometimes they are not. Sometimes they are able to actually get their case to court and cost a veterinarian a lot of money and perhaps even his or her career. A lawsuit for malpractice is extremely damaging for one’s reputation. Just think about it, would you take your beloved pet to a vet who had been sued for malpractice? Most pet owners would not.

One organization that has been providing information, help and insurance to veterinary professionals is AVMA PLIT. This organization has been around since 1962 and offers a variety of insurance solutions for students, techs and veterinarians. They also have personal life and health policies for practitioners also. Not only do they offer professional liability and personal insurance, they offer insurance against damage to your facility. And they provide educational materials to members such as their Veterinary Safety Manual. At the current time they are also offering a free copy of The Business Owner’s Playbook.

It should not be understated that veterinary malpractice insurance is important to have. There are so many things that can go wrong, and sometimes it is no one’s fault but the veterinarian gets sued anyway. Then there are honest mistakes like switched medications, botched procedures and wrong diagnoses. There are so many things that can go wrong in any medical setting, it pays to have the right amount and type of insurance coverage even if you never have to use it. There is something for every type of veterinary facility and every budget, including that of a student working their way through veterinary school.

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