2 surgeries, lost puppies: Why a Labrador owner lost a consumer case against vet

A Labrador owner faced disappointment after a consumer court in Punjab set aside the monetary liability imposed on a veterinarian for failing to perform a proper medical procedure on a pregnant dog. The owner, Singh, paid Rs 10,000 for the puppy delivery expenses and later took the female Labrador home when she remained in pain.

Another vet discovered two dead fetuses inside the dog, leading to the case reaching a consumer court and then the state consumer commission. The commission ruled in Singh's favor, setting aside the Rs 75,000 payout, as there was no evidence to link the doctor to the surgery. The district commission had previously ruled in Singh's favor, ordering the veterinarian to pay Rs 75,000.

However, the state commission found no concrete evidence connecting the veterinarian to the treatment and the owner to the compensation. The ruling emphasized the doctor's obligation to ensure proper treatment and warned against dismissing consumer concerns.