| Complaint: | Complaint 22-63 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Helena Carner |
| Premises: | Legacy Veterinary Services |
| Related: | 22-64 |
The complainant states that she's filing a complaint against Carner and Wood with Legacy Veterinary Services regarding the care provided to her horse. Her story begins with a contract with April Vernon of AA Equine Services to board and eventually sell her three horses; Vernon recommended the horses be seen by Legacy Veterinary Services without being told that Vernon is also the "Bodyworker and Rehab Therapist" at that same enterprise. Difficulties were encountered while shoeing the horses with Vernon's chosen (and anonymous) farrier, at which point one of her horses was reported to be having lameness issues, necessitating the involvement of Legacy Veterinary Services.
An exam by Wood (not Carner, as she agreed to) yielded a variety of newfound problems, including "sore stifles and other sore areas...all due to the scar" causing "resulting adhesions," stating that an ultrasound indicated some of the horse's tendons had healed together. She was also informed that the horse would never be a good barrel horse, but he could still turn out to pass for a trail horse if a variety of "ozone and electro-equiscope" therapies (performed by Vernon) were applied.
She sought out a second opinion but had problems obtaining the ultrasound even after paying her bill in full; she was told that the ultrasound "was limited and could not be saved" because the horse was too fidgety (she says the horse was typically rather stoic). She got another story that the horse had been sedated (without her permission) but the ultrasound couldn't be saved because of computer problems. She relates that the second opinion vet found mild lameness that was likely caused by the farrier's poor fitting of shoes. After reviewing the records she received, she also learned that Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis was proposed as a possible diagnosis; she'd never learned this before, and apparently one of Vernon's horses had actually suffered from that affliction instead. She says she was willing to let it all go until she learned Vernon was discussing her horse's medical records with a friend who later contacted her.
Carner states that the appointment was made by an independent contractor for her practice, Vernon, who also operates her own business as a horse trainer, bodyworker, boarding facility operator, and equiscope practitioner. It appears that portions of the horse's presenting concerns, including EPM, actually came from April. She also states that she wasn't aware the complainant was specifically expecting her to examine the horse. We're told the entire experience, from the unapproved sedation to the inability to upload ultrasound images to the cloud, are a learning experience. She also doesn't know why her staff told the complainant that the horse's imaging was too blurry; she wonders if her staff was just trying to protect her. Regarding the alternative therapies, she states that they're quite useful and are done under her supervision, but perhaps Wood, as a new hire, failed to explain them well. She also mentions that she made some amended notes to the horse's medical record; she cannot explain Vernon's alleged discussion of the horse's medical records with others.
The Investigative Committee discussed that Carner was involved but not as much as she could have been; they also note that there's no legal requirement to keep the ultrasound images around, only to enter their interpretation into the medical record. They faulted Carner for adding amended medical records when she hadn't actually examined the horse, finding a violation accordingly. The board rounded it down to a Letter of Concern.
One of the investigators, Justin McCormick, operates Copper Ridge Equine with wife Catherine. That particular enterprise has come up in complaints several times.
| Source: | May 5, 2022 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Helena Carner | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Aye |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Gregg Maura | Aye |
| Justin McCormick | Aye |
| Steven Dow | Aye |
| Violations: | |
| ARS ยง 32-2232 (18) as it relates to AAC R3-11-501 (9) for altering the animal's medical record regarding the treatment that was provided. | |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | June 6, 2022 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Robyn Jaynes |
| Seconded By: | Jessica Creager |
| Roll Call: | |
| Craig Nausley | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Absent |
| 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.