NEW CASE - NEW INVESTIGATOR SEE "AFTER THE AGREED ORDER LETTER" click HERE
Received a call yesterday Tuesday 12/13/2011 and a new case was opened due to Brackeen not paying the restitution and not paying the Adminstrative Penalty...
Anchor Road Vet Clinic
1029 CR 44
Angleton, Tx 77515
3-23-11
Dear Sir:
It is unfortunate for you to have to deal with this situation. Mrs. Dunn’s dog Spanky a 15 pound Chihuahua, was first presented to the clinic on 11-5-03 for routine castration and continuously over the following years for skin allergies and vaccinations. He was presented on 5-25-07, for swelling in the left inguinal area which we considered this to be a hernia with no need for surgery. He was represented on 1-14-11 with an enlargement of the left inguinal area. I felt then that was a fat tumor of great size. The tumor seemed to be impeding his gait and recommended surgery at that time. Surgery was scheduled for 1-17-11. I removed a large adipose mass which extended into the inguinal canal. I could not remove all of the tissue which seemed to continue for some distance. There was minimal bleeding and the surgery site was packed with iodophor treated gauze. Antibiotics were administered. Recovery was slow and Spanky was sent home with owner along with post-op antibiotics.
Later that night, around 9:30 the owner called and said there was some bleeding from Spankey’s surgery site. My daughter received the call as I was asleep. She is one of my lab techs with years of experience. I am presently on high blood pressure and low thyroid medication which makes me very sleepy at night. My medical physician has requested me to not make farm calls any more which we no longer consider part of our practice. I had Mrs. Dunn bring Spanky in and reexamined the surgery location. I found no bleeding at that time. Laughingly I told to take him home and did not charge her the normal $100 after hour fee. Evidently she mistook my humor for being upset at her. If I was upset, I would have charged her for the service.
I did not hear from the owner for the rest of the week until Monday morning around 4:00AM. I do not have any help till after 7;00 AM and recommended she come in at that time which she did. Spanky was depressed and slow to respond. There was redness in the surgical area and temperature was 99.6F. The iodophor gauze was removed. Additional antibiotics were administered. Spanky passed away after 10AM. He was wrapped and placed in the freezer as we do any other deceased animal. The owner was called and informed of the situation. She and her daughter came to pick up Spanky after 5 PM as I was leaving to take my grand children to Tae Kwon Do. I stop seeing people after 5 PM. I told them to call me any time to talk as I had been waiting all day for their return and my time is important to the children at that time.
I have no idea as to the cause of death to this patient. I feel sorrow for the family and hope with time their anger will heal. We all hurt when we lose patients and I feel that sometimes my own hired help sometimes hurt the most. I never tell them to hide their own emotions, but sometimes they may be misunderstood. Unfortunately, owners misunderstand techs and the statements made by the veterinarian in sad situations. May times I have seen owner’s emotions over ride clear thought as I’m sure we all have.
Thank you for your time in the matter.
Gary Brackeen DVM
Dear Sir:
It is unfortunate for you to have to deal with this situation. Mrs. Dunn’s dog Spanky a 15 pound Chihuahua, was first presented to the clinic on 11-5-03 for routine castration and continuously over the following years for skin allergies and vaccinations. He was presented on 5-25-07, for swelling in the left inguinal area which we considered this to be a hernia with no need for surgery. He was represented on 1-14-11 with an enlargement of the left inguinal area. I felt then that was a fat tumor of great size. The tumor seemed to be impeding his gait and recommended surgery at that time. Surgery was scheduled for 1-17-11. I removed a large adipose mass which extended into the inguinal canal. I could not remove all of the tissue which seemed to continue for some distance. There was minimal bleeding and the surgery site was packed with iodophor treated gauze. Antibiotics were administered. Recovery was slow and Spanky was sent home with owner along with post-op antibiotics.
Later that night, around 9:30 the owner called and said there was some bleeding from Spankey’s surgery site. My daughter received the call as I was asleep. She is one of my lab techs with years of experience. I am presently on high blood pressure and low thyroid medication which makes me very sleepy at night. My medical physician has requested me to not make farm calls any more which we no longer consider part of our practice. I had Mrs. Dunn bring Spanky in and reexamined the surgery location. I found no bleeding at that time. Laughingly I told to take him home and did not charge her the normal $100 after hour fee. Evidently she mistook my humor for being upset at her. If I was upset, I would have charged her for the service.
I did not hear from the owner for the rest of the week until Monday morning around 4:00AM. I do not have any help till after 7;00 AM and recommended she come in at that time which she did. Spanky was depressed and slow to respond. There was redness in the surgical area and temperature was 99.6F. The iodophor gauze was removed. Additional antibiotics were administered. Spanky passed away after 10AM. He was wrapped and placed in the freezer as we do any other deceased animal. The owner was called and informed of the situation. She and her daughter came to pick up Spanky after 5 PM as I was leaving to take my grand children to Tae Kwon Do. I stop seeing people after 5 PM. I told them to call me any time to talk as I had been waiting all day for their return and my time is important to the children at that time.
I have no idea as to the cause of death to this patient. I feel sorrow for the family and hope with time their anger will heal. We all hurt when we lose patients and I feel that sometimes my own hired help sometimes hurt the most. I never tell them to hide their own emotions, but sometimes they may be misunderstood. Unfortunately, owners misunderstand techs and the statements made by the veterinarian in sad situations. May times I have seen owner’s emotions over ride clear thought as I’m sure we all have.
Thank you for your time in the matter.
Gary Brackeen DVM