| Complaint: | Complaint 21-113 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Krystina Lee |
| Premises: | Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson |
| Related: | 21-112, 21-114 |
This complaint follows from 21-112 and pertains to Lee's involvement in the dog's care. The complainant says that Lee failed to relay the severity of the dog's condition, claiming they downplayed all the concerns they found and said the dog could be managed with medications. She says that Lee failed to consider how sick the dog actually was and never suggested euthanasia; instead it is said that Lee was saying the dog would be able to go home as soon as the dog's blood sugars were brought under control. (The Findings of Fact relate an ultrasound, acute pancreatitis, possible Cushing's, and blood glucose between 491 and 426.)
Lee says that she saw the dog for pancreatitis and diabetic ketosis. She states that she put the dog on short acting insulin therapy and scheduled an ultrasound to investigate the dog's underlying health condition. She says that the complainant was worried about money and seemed overwhelmed by what she was being told so she wrote it all down and sent it in an email. She also says that the complainant brought up euthanasia but she replied that the dog wasn't a lost cause nor was he suffering, and "so euthanasia was not pushed forcefully" on the complainant (this brings up questions about when "euthanasia" is "pushed forcefully" and conjures up images of a different kind of doctor, but that's another story). She also says that she started writing up discharge instructions for the dog that got included in the medical record by accident; they should have been deleted when the dog died. She also says they tried so hard and that if the complainant had wanted her dog euthanized at any time they would have done it.
The Investigative Committee found Lee's handling of the case "appropriate." Unlike Wynn's allegedly heroic CPR efforts in 21-112 Lee doesn't deserve any superlatives?
| Source: | September 9, 2021 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Krystina Lee | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Steve Seiler | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | October 10, 2021 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Jessica Creager |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| 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.