News Pet hospital ordered to pay ¥6.6m over rabbit's death

thomas

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A court in Kyoto Prefecture ruled that a veterinary clinic must compensate a couple with 660,000 JPY (around $4,400) after their rabbit, Shiro, passed away during a medical procedure. The couple initially sought 6.6 million JPY (about USD44,000), claiming the surgery was conducted without adequate explanation, leading to Shiro's death. The Kyoto District Court's decision on 26 March, disclosed at a 5 April press conference by the owners, highlighted the discrepancy in damage awards for pets compared to humans, often deterring individuals from pursuing legal action.

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In the court ruling, a judge recognized that the animal had not needed immediate surgical treatment and stated that "continuation of medical treatment was an option." He concluded that the hospital "breached its duty of care to check with the owners" because the consent form did not mention the risks of surgery. At the 5 April news conference, Yoshiaki Kii, 54, owner of the pet, said, "We're not focusing on the amount of money. The most important thing is that the veterinarian's and others' negligence has been recognized." In her 50s, his wife recalled their life with Shiro, who used to run to them when they came home, and commented, "Animals can't speak. We hope to see an end to improper medical treatment of animals."


Lawsuits against vet clinics are not that uncommon:


 
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