How to report improper veterinary conduct in North Dakota

23/04/2020

If a veterinarian has conducted themselves outside of veterinary standards you do have recourse to. Ring the improper action(s) to light.

You can file a formal complaint with the North Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

For the most current information on how to file a formal complaint take a look at

https://www.ndbvme.org/complaint-process/

Citing from the Board Rules (NDAC 87-05-01-01): Any person may file a written complaint with the board setting forth the specific charges upon which the complaint is made. Upon receiving a complaint, the board shall notify the veterinarian of the complaint and request the veterinarian provide a wr....

11/01/2020

This page was set up to help you know how to file a complaint if you have unresolved issues.

But, it is also important to know what your vet believes in to avoid problems.

Do they think all animals require annual check ups or are they ok with you bringing them in when needed once you establish care.

Are they ok with breeding operations for all species or are they anti-breeder?
Are they ok with initial care at home for minor injuries or do they expect you to bring your animal in so they can consult for everything.

More and more vets are being taught that "not getting care is neglect" when in fact many people can manage their operations and the majority of initial care without problems.

North Dakota has a veterinarian shortage, but it may be worth it for you to drive a little for the right vet and the best services for you.

Getting to know your vet often prevents issued down the road.

22/09/2019

We often hear stories of a vet who stole someone's dog, a vet who performed improper care or a vet who has a bias against you.

We all need to realized that rarely are these things a "one time" incident.
If a vet is willing to steal or hide an animal once, they are likely to have done it before.

We all need to make complaints to the Stare Board of Veterinarians to ensure we have ethical vets in our state.

Without complaints being filed, patterns of immoral or substandard conduct are not discovered until the most egregious event occurs.

As always, try to work with your vet first. If the relationship can be repaired, that is best for everyone. But, a report should still be filed to ensure they correct the behavior.

It is essential that North Dakota livestock and pet owners have access to honest vets and clinics with morals.

Do your part and report those who are not holding those standards.

It may save other owners the heartache and headaches that you experience and more importantly ensured that more animals were not harmed or put at risk.

10/06/2019

If you can not resolve an issue with a vet, you do have recourse. Often the same things continue to happen because no one ever brought the improper conduct to the attention of the Board.

Animals and owners deserve to be treated with respect by veterinarian's; if the vet isn't doing right by you, other clients are likely to experience the same thing until the vet is held to account for it.

It is also important to know that not every animal can be saved; but when basic standards aren't followed, you do have recourse. There are standards of practice for a reason.

31/03/2019

Remember, if a veterinarian improperly or unethically treated your animal, they may be doing the same things to their other clients animals.

Try to solve things at the lowest level and let your vet know you have concerns, but if you don't reach a solution you do have recourse.

17/11/2018

If you have dealt with a veterinarian who is acting unethically or negligently, and you can't reach a solution, you are not out of options.

Here is how to notify the North Dakota Board of Veterinarians.

23/09/2018

Always try to resolve an issue with your vet first, but if improper conduct occurred and the vet refuses to make things right or worse yet, continue the improper/unprofessional conduct, you can report them to The State Board of Veterinarians.

This page tells you how.

11/09/2018

If you have had a run in with a veterinarian in North Dakota and after attempting to rectify the situation with the vet you are still confident that they are either providing improper care or being negligent, this is how you can report it.

Remember, rarely, are you the only client being treated this way; if you don't speak up the conduct will continue and more people and animals will ultimately suffer.

13/08/2018

We always recommend trying to work your differences out with the veterinarian involved, but what if you can't reach a resolution when the vets conduct was out of standards?

The first thing to do is go to the North Dakota Board of Veterinarians website at

https://www.ndbvme.org

The complaint specifically the link is

https://www.ndbvme.org/complaint-process/

Here, on the center of the page towards the bottom you will see the complaint form.
You will need to download this and fill it out.

You will submit this document in addition to your complaint letter.

Here, you will explain the situation, the violations the vet has committed, and end with your recommendations in how the situation can be resolved i.e. Supervision, training, Suspension, etc.

It is also helpful to outline the offenses specific to your experience.

Here, I recommend using the EXACT VERBIAGE from the state's guidelines,

"North Dakota Veterinary Medical Practice Act Chapter 43-29, North Dakota Century Code43-29-14. Refusal, suspension, and revocation of license and certificate -
a. Fraud or deception in procuring the license.b. The use of advertising or solicitation that is false, misleading, or otherwise determined unprofessional under rules adopted by the board.c. Habitual intemperance in the use of intoxicating liquors, or habitual addiction to the use of morphine, co***ne, or other habit-forming drugs.d. Immoral, unprofessional, or dishonorable conduct manifestly disqualifying the licensee from practicing veterinary medicine.e. Incompetence, gross negligence, or other malpractice in the practice of veterinary medicine.f. Employment of unlicensed persons to perform work that under this chapter can lawfully be done only by persons licensed to practice veterinary medicine.g. Fraud or dishonest conduct in applying or reporting diagnostic biological tests, inspecting foodstuffs, or in issuing health certificates.h. Failure of the licensee to keep the premises and equipment used in the licensee's practice in a reasonably clean and sanitary condition and failure to use reasonably sanitary methods in the practice of veterinary medicine.i. Violation of the rules adopted by the board.j. Conviction of an offense determined by the board to have a direct bearing upon a person's ability to serve the public as a veterinarian, or when the board determines, following conviction of any offense, that a person is not sufficiently rehabilitated under section 12.1-33-02.1.k. Willful or repeated violations of this chapter or any rule adopted by the board.l. Failure to report, as required by law, or making false report of, any contagious or infectious disease.m. Cruelty to animals.n. Revocation of a license to practice veterinary medicine by another state on grounds other than nonpayment of a registration fee.o. The use, prescription, or sale of any veterinary prescription drug, or the prescription or an extra-label use of any over-the-counter drug in the absence of a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship."

It is also important to remain factual and keep emotion out of your letter. Any foul language will also decrease your credibility.

Our state is very short handed veterinarians, and often, having a complaint filed is enough to get a vet to correct their behavior.

But, if you don't file a complaint, the behavior will likely continue.

If you have had an experience with an unethical vet or practice that is out of standards I implore you to file a complaint so other animal owners don't have to experience the same situation and animals get the care they should.

Welcome to the North Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. This web site provides information about the board, and the ability to verify the licensure status of veterinarians and veterinary technicians licensed by the board.

12/06/2018

If you have ever had unethical dealings with dishonest veterinarians in North Dakota, here is the step by step info on how to report them to the North Dakota Board of Veterinarians.

12/03/2018

Have you ever received services from a veterinarian who operated outside of standards?

What can you do to report their improper actions?
How do you hold a veterinarian accountable in North Dakota?

Your first option may very well be to simply stop using their services and go to another veterinarian or clinic, but that doesn't help the next person.

More unsuspecting animal owners, who don't know anything about their history of negligence, may still utilize their services and have their animals inappropriately treated.

It is time to report the bad veterinarians in our state.
The veterinarians who think standard veterinary practices don't apply to them.
The veterinarians who are attacking our livelihood as livestock producers with improper assessments or substandard care.

This page will tell you how to properly report a veterinarian to the North Dakota Board of Veterinarians and the State Veterinarians office.

When your animals are inappropriately evaluated or treated, you do have recourse.

*We encourage you to attempt to solve disputes with the veterinarian first, but when they refuse to acknowledge their improper behavior, you can do something.