| Complaint: | Complaint 18-30 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Adam Polosetski |
| Premises: | Ironwood Veterinary Clinic |
The complainants took their dog in for surgery to remove a tumor from the left elbow. She came home but the wound apparently bled more than expected, or at least more than the complainants expected; they submitted pictures but those were left on the cutting room floor. The complainants state that the wound had clearly reopened and went to see Polosetski but that he didn't go over the biopsy results, the wound was examined in a rushed manner by a veterinary technician, and that "they" told them to apply Green Clay (helpfully available direct from the clinic) to the wound to help it heal better. There's another picture of what the wound looked like after the green clay, but apparently that was also redacted or held back by your local veterinary board. According to the complainants, they took the dog to another veterinarian where the dog improved; they claim that Polosetski's clinic never got back in touch to even check on the dog.
Polosetski's response gives a rundown on the timeline of events leading up to the surgery, from an initial evaluation by another vet at the facility (Raper) to the surgery and later visit. He also notes that the complication regarding wound healing is actually plausible given the nature of the surgery and the tumor; it also appears that the wound got worse after he saw the dog. He states that his technician was supposed to explain stuff about wound healing and aftercare to the complainant, and that he barely saw the complainant at all. Lastly, he also states that as with many things in veterinary medicine, there's little evidence for the use of green clay, but that he has vast experience with the product and many satisfied customers at the clinic.
The Investigative Committee found that no violations occurred. Elbow surgeries can be very difficult because the elbow moves around, making it hard for a wound to heal. Unlike the complainants, the Committee didn't think the wound was all that bad, and that Podosetski could have done the job if the complainants had just trusted him. The Committee also said that there were communication issues and that Polosetski should have talked to them more, but that it was not a violation.
You're probably wondering what green clay is. It's clay and it's green (from chlorophyl, algae, and/or iron oxides). And it's natural. Does it work? Lots of websites say it does. You could also read some articles; I recommend "A New Look at the Purported Health Benefits of Commercial and Natural Clays" by Incledion et al.
| Source: | February 2, 2018 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Adam Polosetski | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Ed Hunter | Absent |
| Mary Williams | Aye |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Ryan Ainsworth | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | March 3, 2018 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Nikki Frost |
| Seconded By: | Sarah Heinrich |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Bertch-Mumaw | Absent |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Julie Young | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Sarah Heinrich | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
The primary source for the above summary was obtained as a public record from the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. You are welcome to review the original records and board meeting minutes by clicking the relevant links. While we endeavor to provide an accurate summary of the complaint, response, investigative reports and board actions, we encourage you to review the primary sources and come to your own conclusions. In some cases we have also been able to reach out to individuals with knowledge of specific complaints, and where possible that information will be included here.