Years ago I sold a puppy to a woman and as time passed I decided that I would not sell her another pup in the future.She lost her old boy at Christmas and asked me about any plans I had for a litter and I said that I had a list but no real plans (lies). Months later she called me demanding to know why I hadn't informed her that I had a litter! A nurse at the vets had told her, so I asked them not to divulge any fact to her in future. Today she phones because she has a very poorly pup,pneumonia, and informs me that the vets had told her that I had problems with either my current litter or the last one with lung problems. I am furious as this is completely false and  feel that a vet's surgery should not be discussing other clients animals

     

Sounds to me like you have every right to be upset :-(  The nurses etc at the vets shouldn't be discussing your business with anyone else.  I'd phone the vets and ask to speak to someone in a more senior position  I'd have thought there was a confidentiality clause they were breaking by divulging info.     

Stacey

It is wrong on the vet's part but maybe they figured she already knew as she has had a previous pup from you..

is the new pup the same breed as your's too?? maybe the vet nurse assumed it was from you as well..

I would have a word with the practice manager and tell them you aren't happy

Hi,

Yes, she has the same breed as me. Her pup is 8 months old and my litter are 8 weeks old now. I think I will phone and ask to talk with someone as I do feel it just isn't right.

Thanks

Under the data protection act they aren't supposed to disclose any of
your information unless they have your permission!!

I'd have a stern word with the practise manager/head vet and say that whomever
is doing so is breaking the law by disclosing your animals conditions/treatments.

Personally I would be livid. Trust is an important part of vet/client  relationship. I would have to have a word to be honest.

Maybe that lady is just making the whole thing up?  Sounds like your relationship with your Vet. has been better than your relationship with her so perhaps the Vet.s should be given the benefit of doubt?

I would definately ask to be told exactly who gave the information.  If it was a nurse or auxiliary member of staff I would complain firmly and make it clear you would take it further if it happened again but leave them to deal with it.  If it turned out to be the vet I would threaten to take it to the RCVS there and then but whether you would do that of course would depend on whether you plan to stick with them and have some sort of ongoing reasonable relationship :)

Before you go in there all fired up I would suggest a quiet word as it may have been done out of the best intentions.

I have no doubt at all it was but that does not give them the right to do it without permission.

Definitely against client confidentiality.  My Vet won't even give my name out to anyone looking for a puppy until they have telephoned me for permission.  Ask to speak to the senior Partner and tell them your complaint.

Hi

I agree that they shouldnt say anything but I wonder if they are just being over helpfull. I did go in to my vets and ask if they knew any whippet breeders before I got my girl but they didnt know of anyone. I have also asked them to recomend a dog walker which they did. Maybe it was a innocent comment like you would be  better asking such and such about lung conditions because she know this breed better than me. After all they know she knows you. She could of taken it completely the wrong way.

I would mention it to the vets but with caution just in case it was a genuine mistake.

Wendy

Good point.  Things are not always reported as they really happened.

When I got my Cindy I was told by her breeder that she had had a reaction to her vaccinations I mentioned it to my vet who said he would need as much info as possible before giving her a vaccination so I got hold of her last vets number even though I owned the dog they would tell me nothing they would only speak to my vet everything is confidential they should not talk about you to anyone else but.  I regularly discuss a friend with my vets receptionist but we did live together once and had shared animals.  Me and my friend that is not the receptionist.

My gut instinct is that this woman isn't telling the truth, for whatever reason.  Discussing a patient's medical records with anyone other than the client is a total breach of confidentiality and I've certainly never worked in any practice where that would be tolerated, in fact I find it hard to believe that any sensible nurse would commit such an error.  Even overlooking the fact it's completely unprofessional, why would someone jeopardise their job with something so completely unnecessary?

However under the Data Protection Act every owner is entitled to a copy of their pet's entire medical history, if it's stored on a computer.  Legally we cannot refuse to provide this and there's no reason why an owner shouldn't be entitled to see their pet's notes.  I heard of someone being caught out by this a couple of years ago (not at my practice, I hasten to add).  A locum had written on a medical record that the patient was "suffering purely as a result of his neurotic owner".  The owner got a copy of these notes and understandably was pretty angry.  We're incredibly careful about writing notes as it's so easy to be misconstrued when typing and even a comment which was intended to be innocuous can seem ambiguous when read by a third party.

I'm almost sure the nurse wouldn't have discussed this matter, however, if she has then she should consider another profession.  We get a hard enough time as it is and the last thing we need is bad publicity caused by gossip.

Mary-Caroline (who is currently looking after a s*dding pigeon, of all things, who was almost bitten by a scary GSD yesterday, and who was called an "anorexic bitch" after suggesting to an owner that their 37kg Lab might benefit from a diet...)

Hi,

I called the surgery and told the person who answered the phone what had happened and that I was not happy. She told me that the vet was busy at that time and I said that since I was due in on Saturday morning to have the pups I am keeping jagged that I would talk with him then.

A while later the phone rang and the head nurse was on the line apologising for what had happened. She said she had got mixed up because the woman had a puppy and she had thought it was one of mine. I can't understand this as my little ones are just 8 weeks! She had said that after a section there can be lung problems so to contact me. Yes my litter was born by section but there were no problems at all.

She was very apologetic and I have made it very clear that I will not tolerate any breach of confidentiality in future. I will reinforce this when I go in to see the boss with my pups.

Thanks everyone for getting back to me.