| Complaint: | Complaint 21-90 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Hanna Wachtel |
| Premises: | 1st Pet Veterinary Centers Phoenix |
The complainant's dog (actually her son's emotional support dog) went in so Wachtel could remove four tumors. She says she wasn't let in to actually point out where the tumors were; we're told they found two tumors but there were a total of four. Wachtel allegedly called and said she could find three of the tumors and the complainant had to explain the location of the fourth tumor over the phone; she told Wachtel it was on the upper right side of the chest and felt like a swollen lymph node. She was called back by staff who told her they found the fourth tumor, but when the dog was discharged the fourth tumor was still there; she says that instead "something unknown to me" was removed from the dg's back right side near her leg. The complainant says that Wachtel failed to do a proper examination or point out (even by a video call) where the tumors were; she also says that if a doctor did this to someone's child they'd lose their license. She also says that 1st Pet was lying to her about her dog's condition; at 11:21 AM she was told the dog was recovering from surgery but at 1:52 PM was called to say they couldn't find the fourth tumor. The dog allegedly cried the entire day after the surgery and the complainant's worried about putting the dog through it again. She hopes the Board will put Wachtel on probation.
Wachtel relates that the dog was first seen by another 1st Pet veterinarian, Arielle Hatcher, who identified three, not four, tumors; one of them was a mammary tumor with a fear of malignancy. Hatcher also recommended a spay but the complainant only wanted the tumors removed. Wachtel says the surgery was scheduled but the complainant was concerned about the delay and scheduling issues; the complainant wanted to cancel and get a refund but the hospital manager, Darci Hoefer, called to get the surgery arranged with an emergency doctor. Wachtel was that emergency doctor; she has worked at 1st Pet for five years as an emergency doctor but this was her first time in general practice. She also says that she was able to speak with the complainant who only wanted the mammary mass and the supernumerary nipple removed at the time; the complainant apparently wanted four masses removed when she actually showed up. She also says she couldn't find the fourth mass because the dog was too feisty; if she'd known the dog was stressed she says she could have given the dog some medications. She also says that she's sorry for the miscommunication about surgery having been done when it hadn't; the complainant was apparently told the dog was "resting comfortably" instead of acting all crazy and the complainant took that to mean the dog was resting comfortably after surgery. She also says that the complainant was called by Chelsea Cheseborough after a BB-sized mass was taken from the right hind end; the complainant didn't complain then so why's she complaining now? Wachtel doesn't understand why the complainant didn't mention the fourth mass until that day. She also feels very bad that the complainant didn't have her expectations met since they worked so hard to squeeze her in.
The Investigative Committee said that "every reasonable attempt was made to remove the correct mass." They also say "no harm came to the dog." They voted to dismiss, Sidaway recused.
For another tale where veterinarians can't find the mass they're supposed to remove read 21-24.
| Source: | July 7, 2021 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Hanna Wachtel | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Aye |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Brian Sidaway | Aye |
| Cameron Dow | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | August 8, 2021 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| 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 | 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.