Veterinary Malpractice: Victim's Gallery | Links | MN Board | Advice for Vets

There was a huge escalation in anger on both sides in the case of Lucy and the Twins. Things will never resolve. I want to state this clearly: I do not believe for one moment that Dr. Youngberg intentionally killed my goats. But kill them, he did. Rather than accepting responsibility, he denied any culpability whatsoever. He shirked. (He actually blamed the goats for their own deaths.) His attitude and actions are what led to this website.

Briefly, the series of events took place as follows:

1. The client called the veterinarian

2. The veterinarian made mistakes that resulted in three deaths

3. The veterinarian denied any responsibility

4. The client pointed out the veterinarian's mistakes

5. The veterinarian denied making any mistakes

6. (We witnessed him make the mistakes and we all know that it was his fault)

7. The veterinarian over-bills the client.

8. The client calls to report the over-billing.

9. The veterinarian admits there is a mistake in the billing but blames the mistake on someone else.

10. The veterinarian still refuses to accept responsibility for making his mistakes. Now defensive and angry, he insists that the client pay him for killing the animals. Now very angry, the client suggests that he pay the client for the animals he killed.

11. The veterinarian, now angry and spiteful, black-balls the client from 3 clinics in 3 cities (11 veterinarians)

12. The client now has 3 dead animals, a bill from the vet, a bill from the undertaker and to top it off, has been expelled, leaving other pets without vets. Forced to find new veterinarians, the client requests pets' records. The client receives only partial records.

13. The client finally files a complaint with the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine.

14. The client constructs a website, because what happened is not fair. What happened is wrong.

15. The client receives the remaining records and notices that besides much misinformation and mistakes, the veterinarian lied.

Do you see the escalation?

16. My complaint with the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine is dismissed because they could not determine that this veterinarian broke the law. I am furious.

17. My new veterinarian, whom I had no problems with, abruptly terminates our association, banning me from another 8 vets at 2 clinics in 2 cities.

18. I am again without a veterinarian.

19. John Youngberg's mistakes are no longer between us, but have been made public.

The following scenario is what usually takes place in cases of veterinary malpractice:

1. The client utilizes the service of a veterinarian

2. The veterinarian makes mistakes which cause the death of the animal

3. The veterinarian bills the client

4. The client politely pays the bill

Now imagine the following scenario:

1. The client calls the veterinarian

2. The veterinarian makes mistakes which cause the death of the animal

3. The veterinarian admits his mistakes, apologizes to the client, sends a sympathy card instead of a bill, and offers to cover the client's expenses

Question: How does the client react?

If it were me, believe it or not, I would probably be sympathetic to the veterinarian. I know how badly I would feel if I were in a similar situation. If the veterinarian demonstrated remorse and apologized, I would be reassuring: "It was an accident. You didn't mean to..." If he sent a sympathy card which said "no charge", I would be touched. I'd say, "That was such a nice thing to do. He must really care". I might even pay him and refuse his offer to pay for the dead patient. That is, if I believed he was sincere.

Advice To Veterinarians

My advice to veterinarians is very simple: Practice your profession with integrity. If you make a mistake, own up to it. Everyone will respect you for it.

You broke it, you bought it

If you make a mistake that kills your patient, bite the bullet and bear the cost. It will keep you honest.

l I have paid $2,000.00 for a dead dog (Nugent). I did not complain. Everything that could be done to save him was done. But he died anyway. It was nobody's fault.

l I have thanked a veterinarian for putting my horse down and promptly paid the bill without complaint. It was nobody's fault. It was a tragic, hopeless situation.

l I have also watched a veterinarian make a fatal mistake, overcharge me, withhold records, lie, ban me from receiving alternate local care, and make me out the villain.

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