My lovely horse died after vets botched routine op. It’s been a nightmare
Owner sent £1k bill despite death of her beloved pet
A grieving horse owner has been handed a £1000 vet bill despite an animal hospital admitting they left a surgical device inside her beloved pet.
Heartbroken Morag Walker’s anguish turned to anger after the blunder emerged following a routine operation on her horse Marcus.
She is demanding compensation after Glasgow University admitted the error following a post-mortem.
Morag said: “The whole situation has been a nightmare. Marcus only went in for an operation for colic but we never got him back.
“He was starting to recover but, after three days, his condition deteriorated so much, we had to make a heartbreaking decision to put him to sleep.”
The horse, a 14-year-old cob, had his operation at the Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, which is part of Glasgow University. But he died a few daysy later. Although the hospital claim the instrument is unlikely to have caused Mar c u s ’ s death , Morag bel ieves it could have.
She said: “I can’t prove e the forceps s caused any y problems but, t, as far as I’m m concerned, it could have. Just ust the thought ht that someone ne cou ld leave ve these insidee is disgusting. I don’t think they should get away with making this kind of mistake.. “If this was a human, there would be an outcry. To think these forceps could have been the cause of him not recovering is horrendous.” Morag, of Kilmarnock, was informed about the error in a letter from Lance Voute, a senior clinician at the hospital. He said it wasn’t possible to know when the forceps entered the abdominal cavity. Morag, who bought Marcus two years ago, had insurance for £4000 but the bill came to about £5200. She is still being pursued for the outstanding payment. Morag, 60, tried to make a claim against the hospital but was told there was no evidence the forceps had caused any complications. She said the hospital did not produce a pathology report after the incident in May. Morag added: “We contacted their insurance insuranc providers, who willwil not help as we can’can’t prove the instrument instrum caused the deadeath. “But,But without a pathologypathol report, there is no way that wew can.” Gl asgow UniversityUnive said: “We regret the circumstances circu of thisth incident and tthe distress caused.caus We have reviewedrevi our equineequi operating proceduresproc to ens ure all instrumentsinst are accountedacc for. “We advised MrsMr Wal ker thattha the matter wouldwo be dealt withwi by our insurers.” in