| Complaint: | Complaint 19-34 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Dwight Benesh |
| Premises: | Chandler Small Animal Clinic |
The complainant brought her mouse in for an exam because of hiccups and a hunch when walking, signs she had seen in other mice with respiratory issues. Benesh allegedly came into the room and took the mouse and the mouse apparently got away. He scooped the mouse up with a towel and held the mouse while using a stethoscope. The complainant says the mouse was struggling and did so until she died. Benesh allegedly said that he wouldn't charge her for the visit, that she must have been very ill, potentially came from a bad breeder, and so on. The complainant says that if she had been as sick as he was claiming she wouldn't have been able to fight his grip for so long. She says she called her roommate who got angry and called Benesh and then called her back in tears. She also says she tried calling the manager herself but never got a call back. They eventually went to talk to the doctor together but felt the conversation was very unprofessional. She admits that it's just her word against his but states she's haunted by what happened to her mouse.
Benesh's writeup begins with the first and last visit with the mouse and the intake by the veterinary technician. He states that the complainant had another mouse that had died the month before from respiratory issues, and he's not sure she took that mouse to a vet (what does that have to do with the complaint?). He says the complainant told him the same things and that the mouse had been sneezing. He says he needed a towel to hold the mouse and that at no time did the complainant say she had any concerns. He says the mouse had a slow heartbeat and just died when he was listening to it. He tried to revive the mouse but failed. He says he told the complainant and she got angry. At some point he says he did lose his composure in the conversation. The complainant's roommate also called him and words were exchanged. He says that both of them came back to the office and that the roommate said she felt better after the conversation.
The Investigative Committee said that veterinarians have to be able to deal with difficult clients. While they felt Benesh's medical conduct was acceptable they also found a violation on grounds that he wasn't professional with the complainant. The veterinary board rounded this down to a letter of concern.
| Source: | March 3, 2019 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Dwight Benesh | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Mary Williams | Absent |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Violations: | |
| ARS 32-2232 (12) as it relates to AAC R3-11-501 (1) for failure to provide courteous verbal interchange with the pet owner after the loss of her pet. | |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | April 4, 2019 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Nikki Frost |
| Seconded By: | Jane Soloman |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Bertch-Mumaw | Nay |
| Darren Wright | Nay |
| J Greg Byrne | Nay |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Nay |
| Jim Loughead | Nay |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Absent |
| Sarah Heinrich | Absent |
| Violations: | |
| ARS 32-2232 (12) Failure to provide courteous verbal interchange | |
| Result: | Failed |
| Source: | April 4, 2019 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Jessica Creager |
| Seconded By: | Christina Bertch-Mumaw |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Bertch-Mumaw | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Nay |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Nay |
| Robyn Jaynes | Absent |
| Sarah Heinrich | Absent |
| 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.