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Editorial

Why is the Free Speech Online campaign important? 

Because someday a vet may be in control of what you can and cannot say about them. Because with regard to addressing veterinary malpractice, incompetence, negligence, and abuse, the Internet is about all we have left. Historically, veterinarians either control or exploit systems that consistently fall short of protecting consumers and their pets. How do they do this? 

The board system.  For generations, vets have successfully dodged accountability at the state board level, using backdoor dealings, cronyism, and a self-policing process that stacks the deck against victims when they file complaints. It is at best ineffective and at worst, a travesty that can put public safety in jeopardy. 

Few pet owners/guardians stand a chance against the secrecy and arrogance of a system that is literally funded by the vets themselves, as is the case in Texas and elsewhere. 

  The legal system.  Civil courts can be even worse. Pets have little value or protection under the law, and once again, vets can handily exploit a system when it suits them -- but not one moment before. Here's how it works: Your pet is a valued family member, the medical patient of a medical professional -- a doctor who makes his or her living treating animals. Until that same medical professional harms or kills your pet, that is. 

Now sit back and watch your beloved, valued companion turn into a virtually worthless piece of property as far as the law is concerned (unless Fluffy is a Longhorn steer). Your family member went from patient to property before you knew what hit you, or them. Meanwhile, the doctor undergoes a similar metamorphosis, but with a much happier ending. He transforms from multi-degreed medical professional into a mechanic who -- oops! -- broke something he was working on, something that turns out isn't all that valuable after all -- legally. And then enjoys almost guaranteed protection and freedom from accountability for the damage -- legally.  

As others have noted, it is a profession that has it both ways. And it's a pretty safe bet that many of them like it like that. A lot. 

So where does a pet guardian go? 

If some vets had their say, nowhere. Having essentially controlled and/or hidden behind the two main systems that should be protecting the victims and not the vets, some veterinarians could try to police the Internet -- a disturbing, ugly, and dangerous trend that has ramifications for everyone. 

Consumers who use cyberspace to share experiences, facts, and opinions about vets may one day find that avenue closed off as rich, well-connected, influential doctors can use their clout to silence, intimidate, frighten, threaten, or control anyone who speaks out, knowing that most victims do not have the legal or financial resources to fight them. 

Worse, some vets unconscionably exploit their own noble profession, confident that they can hide inside an almost universally respected, well-liked, and trusted public image that will distract the public from what is really going on. Sort of like practiced, friendly salespeople who point out the bells and whistles of a used car while hoping you won't notice that the engine is hanging by a thread. And veterinarians are unconditionally trusted infinitely more often than your average salesperson. 

The very worst manipulate their colleagues into helping to bail them out; unfortunately, some of those colleagues are more than happy to. Who knows? They may need bailing out themselves one day. Protect me now, and I'll protect you later. 

Happily, I believe that most veterinarians, like most people, behave ethically. The ones whose actions prove they do not, make it difficult for everybody -- their colleagues and the public alike. A few brave veterinarians do step up about the abuses and abusers within the profession, but not nearly enough. 

That leaves only us, the public, to speak out. And eventually some vets are going to be marshaling forces to nip this in the bud. Let's face it: life had to be easier when victims were isolated and alone, left with dead pets and wondering what went wrong, unable to compare notes about their vet's conduct and practices, unable to easily check on disciplinary records, unable to read victims' stories of their experiences, unable to communicate with people who have been through the same tragedy. Clueless, trusting, and unable to be made aware of the things that go on in a self-regulated profession that enjoys widespread protection from any meaningful accountability. 

Unable to do anything, that is, except believe what their friendly neighborhood vet tells them "really" happened to their pet. And even if they don't entirely believe him or her, if they sense that they are not getting the whole story or worse, are being outright lied to, where could they go to tell of their experience? The aforementioned "nowhere." 

The Internet changed everything. And some vets are eventually going to be very, very unhappy about it. 

What does this mean to you?

It means that in addition to being at risk of having our pets, our money, our choices, and our trust stolen, veterinarians might start setting their sights on abducting our voices. 

It means that if a veterinarian can succeed in controlling and silencing one victim who dares to speak up, who will be next? With every potential victory against free speech, vets will become more empowered and protected than they already are, putting not only our basic rights but our pets' lives at stake.

It means that vets and their professional organizations are more likely to work toward preserving their freedoms -- one of which would be the freedom to do whatever they want behind closed doors without fear of accountability from any corner. The other freedom they might pursue is the freedom to decide how to restrict your freedom in order to allow theirs to go unchecked. You say it can't happen? Do you think the board systems and the laws regarding animals got -- and stayed -- the way they are by accident? 

It means that the Internet could become a place where some vets might very well determine what can and cannot be written about them. If they don't like what they see, if an opinion is expressed that they disagree with, if they don't want their actions as doctors and licensees of the state in positions of public trust and public safety exposed -- no problem. They can figuratively hit the "delete" button and make it all go away -- on their terms. They can freely threaten and bully web site owners, writers, journalists, forum posters, bloggers, and the average citizen into silence. They can attack and discredit the victims; circle the community wagons to cloak themselves in self-aggrandizement; ridicule and intimidate veterinarians of conscience trying to help victims; get eager colleagues to help them lie; manipulate whomever and whatever, with no conscience about using people and processes to hide behind; and of course rely on that old standby that works up their faithful followers into a frenzy of loyalty  --  convincing people that the vets, not the animals and certainly not their owners, are the "real" victims. 

It means, in short, that you may have to shut up if a veterinarian wants you to. 

They have the board system covered. They have the legal system covered. If they manage to control free speech on the Internet, it's three strikes and we're out. And so are our pets.  

What can you do?   

There are exceptions, but as a whole, veterinarians are generally a well-funded, organized, and formidable political force, despite a warm and fuzzy image that often lulls us into thinking otherwise. One minute they're cooing baby talk to your puppy-dog or kitty-cat. The next thing you know, they're scrambling for ways to squash the constitution. Go figure. 

Veterinarians controlling the Internet is, of course, a worst-case, hypothetical scenario, but nightmares can come true if we wait and let our rights vanish before we know what hit us -- again. Despite what some vets may want, you have the right to tell your story without interference. Ideally, we should be able to do this without fear, but sadly, that is not always the case. The very worst of these will literally do anything, say anything, self-righteously drag their victims through any never-ending hell they can come up with, and there's little anybody can do about it. 

If you have a website, if you post on a forum, if you tell your story anywhere on the Internet, please copy and paste the Free Speech Online logo as a reminder to those who may not know: freedom of speech is still alive, unlike many victims of veterinary malpractice, incompetence, negligence, and abuse. 

Veterinarians have been protecting one another for years. The public is  catching up, and with the Internet we finally have a chance to do the same. Even if our pets do get lost in the shuffle of self-serving board systems and archaic laws, we can still stand up and speak out for what we believe in. We can protect each other and our pets with information, education, and awareness, but only if our basic rights to do so remain that -- protected. 

--Julie Catalano

2.27.2006