The Taipei City Government on Wednesday said it is investigating National Taiwan Normal University Veterinary Hospital over accusations that a vet accidentally killed a dog by administering anesthesia without the owner’s authorization, with the results to be shared later this month.
Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇) convened a news conference earlier in the day with the owner of the dog, surnamed Chang (張).
Chang said she took her pomeranian, Micky, to the hospital’s behavioral clinic on July 24.
Photo: Tsai Ya-hua, Taipei Times
A vet surnamed Wang (王) said they would make the dog “comfortable and well-behaved” while drawing blood, she said.
Shortly afterward, Micky went into shock and died, Chang said, adding that she later discovered that Wang had administered anesthesia without her permission.
The hospital has yet to provide any surveillance footage or records to explain what happened, she said.
Another employee at the clinic alleged that the veterinarians did not take the situation seriously when Micky went into shock, and only administered first aid after an intern pointed out that something was wrong, Ying said.
However, Chang cannot claim medical negligence, as pets are considered property under the law, Ying said.
The primary issue with the case should be whether the veterinarian had Chang sign a consent form, but consent forms are not covered in the Veterinarian Act (獸醫師法), Taipei Animal Protection Office Commissioner Chen Ying-hao (陳英豪) said, recommending that vets use sample forms provided by the office.
Taipei Consumer Protection Officer Kung Chien-ya (龔千雅) said her office received a complaint about the case earlier this month and is already conducting an investigation.
The hospital in a statement said that Wang had already apologized multiple times for the unintentional error caused by personal negligence.
It also vowed to take responsibility if administrative or legal errors are discovered on the part of the hospital or Wang.
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