| Complaint: | Complaint 22-111 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Benjamin Berriman |
| Premises: | Banfield Peoria 5258 |
The complainant says she took her puppy to Banfield to get his vaccines. While taken to the back without her supervision and under the care of multiple doctors, her puppy managed to swallow what she describes as a vaccine vial. She didn't know this until over a week later when her puppy started choking and became unconscious; she picked him up to attempt the Heimlich maneuver and a vaccine vial fell out of his mouth. She went back with the vaccine vial and they confirmed it was one of theirs, then took it back never to be seen again (she has a photo). She was told that it was a good thing he's bigger because he could have choked to death if he were smaller, and that it's necessary to take the dogs back alone because of COVID where they watch them; she asks how well the dogs can be watched if one of them swallows a vial. She concludes with concerns about getting the dog's test results as well, stating that the dog later had signs of inflammation on lab work.
Berriman's response includes a statement from the CVT they're throwing under the bus. She says that while getting the vials out of the refrigerator, she heard their lab tech tell the dog not to get into things. While another tech held the dog, she went to get other items and came back to find one of the vials missing; she was told that she probably just forgot to get it, went back, and got another one. They didn't know that there was a problem until the complainant came back with the vial, at which point they gave the dog x-rays and blood tests. Berriman came in and diagnosed the dog with a urinary tract infection. He also notes that he ran x-rays at no cost when the complainant came back with the vial; she told him that the dog likes to eat things and suggested safety tips at home for the dog. He also raised her concerns to the Chief of Staff and Practice Manager.
The Investigative Committee said that Berriman didn't knowingly withhold information and handled the case appropriately once he found out. They also state that changes were made to ensure nothing like this happens again (one would think this might warrant a look into the responsible veterinarian for the clinic, but it doesn't).
| Source: | September 9, 2022 AM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Benjamin Berriman | Respondent |
| T Scott King | Respondent Attorney |
| Roll Call: | |
| Robert Kritsberg | Aye |
| Christina Tran | Aye |
| Carolyn Ratajack | Aye |
| Jarrod Butler | Recused |
| Steven Seiler | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | October 10, 2022 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Craig Nausley |
| Seconded By: | Darren Wright |
| Roll Call: | |
| Craig Nausley | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Melissa Thompson | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | 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.