| Complaint: | Complaint 20-66 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Augusta Forsee |
| Premises: | Mountain View Animal Hospital |
The complainant tells us Forsee prescribed prednisone and azathioprine for her dog to treat anemia. She says that Forsee had an overreliance on lab work rather than focusing on the actual condition of the dog, stating that Forsee often told her how her own dog had died from a similar problem. She says that Forsee refused to consider any other options and did not follow up on diabetes or liver problems that could arise from the prednisone. The dog also started to develop severe breathing problems at night that Forsee did not work up. She finally took her dog to a different vet who found high blood sugars and diagnosed diabetes; the dog was taken off Forsee's treatment plan. The complainant says that Forsee seemed more interested in payments for services in the office than in the dog's health. She also says that she thinks if she had not taken her dog elsewhere that her dog would have died.
Forsee gives us her medical take on the dog's background and visits. She says that she warned the complainant that diabetes or Cushing's can result from steroids. She also notes that her dog did die from immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, which was one of the differential diagnoses in this dog. She also tells us that the anemia worsened which was why azathioprine was added to the treatment plan. She also says that she again discussed how her own dog died of anemia and none of the veterinarians could ever find out why. She says that overall the complainant seemed understanding and happy with the care provided until she decided to take the dog elsewhere.
The Investigative Committee said that they had serious concerns with the use of the drugs in question, particularly as the felt that Forsee was treating abnormalities in the lab work rather than focusing on the overall health of the dog. They also said that treating for IMHA was not appropriate as there was insufficient evidence to justify a diagnosis of IMHA. They stated that the dog should have been sent to a specialist or additional diagnostics performed. They found several violations but the board threw all of them out; Forsee got a letter of concern instead.
| Source: | June 6, 2020 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Augusta Forsee | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Aye |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Brian Sidaway | Recused |
| Cameron Dow | Aye |
| William Hamilton | Aye |
| Violations: | |
| ARS 32-2232 (12) as it relates to AAC R3-11-501 (1) for failure to provide professionally acceptable procedures for not performing examinations on the dog when presented on 10/18/19, 10/25/19, 11/5/19, 11/19/19, 12/3/19, 12/10/19, 12/26/19, and 1/16/20. | |
| ARS 32-2232 (12) as it relates to AAC R3-11-501 (3) for failure to seek consultation or referral to enhance the quality of veterinary care. | |
| ARS 32-2232(12) as it relates to AAC R3-11-501 (1) for failure to provide professional acceptable procedures by not repeating or recommending a blood chemistry panel after initiation of treatment, or dosage changes, of immunosuppressive drugs. | |
| ARS 32-2232 (12) as it relates to AAC R3-11-501 (1) for failure to provide professional procedures by not establishing a diagnosis prior to treating the dog with chemo-theraputic drugs without further diagnostics to determine the cause of the dog's anemia, and without evidence or identification of spherocytes. | |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | July 7, 2020 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| August Forsse | Respondent |
| Proposed By: | Robyn Jaynes |
| Seconded By: | Sarah Heinrich |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Absent |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Sarah Heinrich | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | August 8, 2020 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| August Forsse | Respondent |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Jessica Creager |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| 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.