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The
Internet is a mixed blessing. Never in the history of veterinary
malpractice have veterinary victims been able to find each other,
compare notes, offer advice and support, research veterinary malpractice cases and
board complaints, and help one another get through the horrific process of
sorting through the wreckage of their lives after an incompetent, negligent veterinarian has
injured or killed their companions.
The
Internet is a double-edged sword for BadVets. It makes it more
difficult for the worst of them to fly under the radar; many
veterinary boards post their state's disciplinary actions online; and
searching for a vet's name and/or the clinic's name can often lead to a client or potential client finding out things the vet
would prefer that nobody know about.
It's the "searching" part that provides BadVets with a silver lining: There are ways to manipulate the public in
cyberspace in much the same way they do in real life; specifically,
perverting SEO (search engine optimization) techniques and misusing links and aggregate sites to artificially increase their page rankings on Google. In short, gaming Google.This makes it more difficult for the average person to find anything negative about BadVets, because the first few pages can be dominated by the vet's manufactured trash specifically and deliberately designed to "push down" the rankings of sites that have negative information about the vet.
If
you recognize your veterinarian in any of the following, take note. Depending
on how brazen, arrogant, or stupid they are, BadVets may be leaving a
trail of evidence that you can gather, document, and use in filing a
board complaint for unprofessional conduct, honesty and fair dealing,
or similar statutes; or possibly even a lawsuit for things like false
advertising and fraud (e.g.,In Texas, the statute of limitations for
fraud is four years, so it's important to keep good records if you think a vet is or has been trying to game search engine rankings). Remember
these involve two entirely different jurisdictions: 1) Check your
individual state's Veterinary Practice Act for specifics on
categories like honesty, fair dealing, false advertising,
unprofessional conduct, and the like; and 2) consult with an attorney
licensed to practice law in your state to discuss lawsuit options regarding fraud and false advertising.
In
the meantime, watch for any signs of the following: