How to Protect Your Practice Against Malpractice

Veterinary practices typically don't do a great job of protecting themselves from malpractice, says John Owens, veterinary attorney at the Law Offices of John Owens, LLC. He lays out a few tips to protect yourself from legal trouble.

First, look into the standard of care you're required to have, Owens says, which differs from state to state. Next, look at what the risk factors are in your practice — do an audit, look at the processes you undergo on a day-to-day basis and identify your high-risk areas. Then, develop mitigation strategies for those areas.

One of the easiest mitigation strategies is just having insurance, he advises. You can also develop quality consent forms for veterinary clients, review your medical records on a regular basis and develop good communication skills.