| Complaint: | Complaint 19-12 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Gordon Vergason |
| Premises: | Premier Pet Hospital |
The complainant says that she called Vergason's emergency line because her dog was given some bones. He was throwing them up and lethargic. She says she was given some meds to help the dog pass the material but the dog's condition grew worse. She took the dog back and Vergason recommended surgery. Picking the dog up she was concerned about the incision, felt the staples were barely hanging on, and that it looked unclean. She says she was directed to give six different oral medications and took off work to be with her dog. By three days later she says her dog was barely moving, acting disoriented, and the wound was hot to the touch and looked very infected. She was told to come in and was told that the dog had an abscess and an infection. She said she couldn't pay any more money after the cost of the surgery and Vergason allegedly told her that he couldn't afford to help her out with a payment plan. The complainant found another veterinarian but the dog died; that veterinarian told her that the dog was septic. She believes that Vergason caused the dog's death.
Vergason corroborates much of what the complainant says regarding initial presentation. He also states that he recounted a rather gruesome case of a dog where pork rib bones had shredded a dog's innards and had to be euthanized. After the surgery his account differs as he says that the complainant contacted him and told him that she was unable to administer the medications and that the dog was left home alone without an e-collar. He says that on followup it was obvious to him that the complainant had not been applying the antibiotic and that the dog had been licking the wound. He says the complainant said she couldn't pay any more money but that he went ahead and flushed the wound for free and replaced the stitches. He also says that the next day the complainant called and stated again that she hadn't been using the antibiotics. At this point she took the dog to another veterinarian. He says that once the dog died she called him again to inform him and that she allegedly told him that she felt she had done something wrong to cause the dog's death. He says that he did not confirm that with her, but that if she had followed his instructions, he believes the dog would still be alive.
The Investigative Committee concluded that the surgery was appropriate and the dog was in good condition on discharge so complications must have set in later. They felt there were some medical record keeping concerns but nothing that was a violation or would change the result. They also said that Vergason handled everything appropriately given the limitations of the client running out of money.
| Source: | November 11, 2018 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Gordon Vergason | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Absent |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Christine Butkiewicz | Aye |
| Donald Noah | Aye |
| William Hamilton | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | December 12, 2018 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Gordon Vergason | Respondent |
| Proposed By: | Sarah Heinrich |
| Seconded By: | Jessica Creager |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Bertch-Mumaw | Recused |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Recused |
| Robyn Jaynes | Absent |
| 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.