| Complaint: | Complaint 21-19 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Sherif Louis |
| Premises: | Pet Doctor Tucson |
| Related: | 21-35, 21-93 |
The complainant says that her cat was prescribed methimazole at a dose of half a 5mg tablet. She says that several months later after a phone call the dose was increased to the full 5mg tablet despite not having the blood work updated in all that time; the cat died only twelve days later. She says that she's sure if the blood work had been checked perhaps the increase would have changed or the cat would have been switched to a different medicine.
She also includes an email with Romy Phillips, the hospital manager for Pet Doctor Tucson. In the email Phillips says that she's checked with the higher-ups and confirmed that even the doubled dose was well within the safe range; she also says that while it would always be nice to recheck blood work in an older cat, the dosage was within a range that blood work would not have been required. She also says that she's sorry to hear the cat has died. However, she's happy to hear that Kalani "was able to take care of you" at Adair Funeral because he's left to open his own pet crematorium. We're also told that the increase in dosage was done by Sherif Louis, who no longer works at the clinic.
Sherif Louis tells us that he saw the cat for weight loss. He came up with a list of differential diagnoses and wanted to run tests but the complainant couldn't afford it; he directed staff to contact Pima Animal Care Center as they have a program to assist with costs in some cases. He started the cat on a special diet and was able to have some tests run at a following vist; the tests were consistent with hyperthyroidism so he prescribed methimazole. He also stated that even with normal kidney values the blood work should be recchecked every three to six months. He says that he approved two refills and ninety days later approved another refill as the cat was said to be doing better. He states that he subsequently had an unrelated disagreement with Pet Doctor Tucson management and left the company; he also said that he would return his keys when he met with LH Nelson, the owner, as they were discussing other business plans. After receiving the complaint he called the complainant and learned that the refill had actually been approved and the dose changed after he left the clinic; it appears his concerns about a recheck were ignored by Pet Doctor and the increased dosage was refilled and approved by Courtney Pike, a different veterinarian. He also seems to suggest that records were in some cases made up and others falsified or modified to make it appear as though he prescribed a dose that he did not.
The Investigative Committee found no problems with Louis' conduct but did believe there could be problems with the clinic itself; they recommended opening an investigation into L.H. Nelson, the responsible veterinarian for the premises. The rest of the writeup is less clear; they say that that the dose was safe and shouldn't have killed the cat, that we'll never know what killed the cat, but that they shouldn't have given a refill or changed the dosage in case doing so would have hurt the cat. They stated that handing out more medicine without more tests was "egregious" in the Committee's view; whether that's because they actually care in this instance or because they act as a full-employment program for the veterinary profession is left for you to decide.
Pet Doctor Tucson has quite a few complaints against it, and we have a few of them in our records. As far as people doing stuff they're not supposed to, read 18-17.
| Source: | January 1, 2021 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Sherif Louis | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Steve Seiler | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | February 2, 2021 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Sherif Louis | Respondent |
| 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 | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | February 2, 2021 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| L H Nelson | Respondent |
| Proposed By: | Jim Loughead |
| Seconded By: | Sarah Heinrich |
| 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 | 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.