| Complaint: | Complaint 21-80 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Patrick Ryan |
| Premises: | Aspen Veterinary Clinic |
The complainant asks that the Board review his (dead) dog's medical information and let him know if he has a valid complaint. He notes that in his own readings after the death and in discussion with veterinarian cardiologists he concludes his dog should have been in the care of a veterinary cardiologist. He says that when Ryan detected a heart murmur he was told they would just monitor it; he wonders why nobody wanted to do anything more than that or send him to a specialist. He also says that later in the year when his dog may have had a heart attack he was just sent home; once medications were started he says it was done in a very casual way, waiting weeks to receive the medications and waiting on one the day the dog deteriorated and euthanasia was recommended. He says he's crushed from the loss and wanted his dog to have the best care possible. He hopes the Board can take the time to review the case.
Ryan's response seems equally focused on the complainant as the complaint itself. He says the complainant was seen frequently regarding his dog; he said the complainant has an East Coast accent and a loud voice, always very focused on his concerns for the dog. He says there was "often difficulty discussing" with the complainant and wonders if the guy has hearing problems. He says the complainant's dog had so many geriatric health issues and was often growling and biting while the complainant held him during exams. He says the dog had a heart murmur but it was often difficult to hear over the growling, claiming he also recommended referral for an echocardiogram; he says that he suggested referral to a cardiologist was always turned down. He notes the dog was sent to Animal Medical and Surgical Center (which shows up in a few complaints) to see a specialist (Jha, also a known respondent) where a cystotomy and mass removal was performed but no heart murmur was noted (the Findings of Fact also say Jha ran x-rays that showed no heart enlargement, conflicting with x-rays Ryan ran that showed an enlarged heart almost a year prior). We're told that it was hard to ever really assess the dog's heart because the dog was so uncooperative; he suspects an acute process set in that caused the dog to deterioriate and medications proven to have no effect. He notes he finally recommended humane euthanasia. Ryan then devotes two entire paragraphs to the complainant's mental state, saying he was staring blankly in shock and knew it would be very difficult; he also says that the complainant's wife sent him several emails concerned about the complainant's mental state. He says that he tried to explain that veterinarians don't start heart medications until heart problems have already set in but "there was no sign of understanding." A significant portion of Ryan's reply was redacted but we're not told why.
The Investigative Committee said that x-rays showed heart changes were occurring as far back as March 2018 (curious that Ryan could see these but Jha didn't notice any of these on his own x-rays in January of 2019 then?). The Committee says that Ryan recommended an echocardiogram and referral several times but for some reason the complainant and his wife never got the message. They also say that heart conditions can go from stable to not stable and dogs can die even with interventions, also noting that veterinarians do not start medications until there are symptoms.
| Source: | July 7, 2021 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Patrick Ryan | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Aye |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Steve Seiler | Absent |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | July 7, 2021 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Deborah Chapman | Respondent |
| Proposed By: | Robyn Jaynes |
| Seconded By: | Jane Soloman |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Nay |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Nay |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Sarah Heinrich | Absent |
| Violations: | |
| ARS 32-2232 (12) Failure to provide professionally acceptable procedures | |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | August 8, 2021 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Jane Soloman |
| Roll Call: | |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| 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.