The Taipei City Government on Wednesday said it is investigating National Taiwan Normal University Veterinary Hospital over accusations that a vet accidentally killed a dog by administering anesthesia without the owner’s authorization, with the results to be shared later this month.
Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇) convened a news conference earlier in the day with the owner of the dog, surnamed Chang (張).
Chang said she took her pomeranian, Micky, to the hospital’s behavioral clinic on July 24.
Photo: Tsai Ya-hua, Taipei Times
A vet surnamed Wang (王) said they would make the dog “comfortable and well-behaved” while drawing blood, she said.
Shortly afterward, Micky went into shock and died, Chang said, adding that she later discovered that Wang had administered anesthesia without her permission.
The hospital has yet to provide any surveillance footage or records to explain what happened, she said.
Another employee at the clinic alleged that the veterinarians did not take the situation seriously when Micky went into shock, and only administered first aid after an intern pointed out that something was wrong, Ying said.
However, Chang cannot claim medical negligence, as pets are considered property under the law, Ying said.
The primary issue with the case should be whether the veterinarian had Chang sign a consent form, but consent forms are not covered in the Veterinarian Act (獸醫師法), Taipei Animal Protection Office Commissioner Chen Ying-hao (陳英豪) said, recommending that vets use sample forms provided by the office.
Taipei Consumer Protection Officer Kung Chien-ya (龔千雅) said her office received a complaint about the case earlier this month and is already conducting an investigation.
The hospital in a statement said that Wang had already apologized multiple times for the unintentional error caused by personal negligence.
It also vowed to take responsibility if administrative or legal errors are discovered on the part of the hospital or Wang.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
Taiwan and its Pacific ally Tuvalu on Tuesday signed two accords aimed at facilitating bilateral cooperation on labor affairs, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The governments inked two agreements in Taipei, witnessed by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and visiting Deputy Tuvaluan Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone, MOFA said in a news release. According to MOFA, the agreements will facilitate cooperation on labor issues and allow the two sides to mutually recognize seafarers’ certificates and related training. Taiwan would also continue to collaborate with Tuvalu across various fields to promote economic prosperity as well as the well-being of their
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious