Legal Question in Health Care Law in Florida

Dog in the doctors office

I work for a pediatric/family physician, who brings his dog to work everyday. It is a little poodle, house trained, very calm, bathed weekly, and well groomed and he does not bark. He pretty much stays in the office managers office all day, asleep under his desk. However, he does come out if a patient calls for him, or if he hears a child crying. No patients have ever complained, and we...the staff, adore him. It makes the workday more fun and creates a relaxed atmosphere. We have had only 1 person complain about being allergic, and 1 who said she was afraid, so we immediately shut the managers door until they left. (They have both become repeat patients).

He recently caught a patient doctor shopping and discharged her. She is saying that unless he gives her more narcotics, she will report him to the board of med for having a dog in the office. We have checked with every agency we can think of, and so far haven't been able to find any law or statute against this. Is it illegal or are there any statutes against having a dog in a doctors office?


Asked on 7/24/08, 2:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Alan Wagner Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore P.A.

Re: Dog in the doctors office

Call the board of medicine. They will tell you. It would surprise me if there was such a rule or statute.

Read more
Answered on 7/24/08, 2:39 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Health Care Law questions and answers in Florida