Toronto vet disciplined over dog's care
By Jenny Yuen, Toronto Sun
First posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 09:14 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, May 26, 2016 09:40 PM EDT
Veterinarian Jonathan Mitelman says if he could have changed one thing about his care for an arthritic 13-year-old dog that was euthanized five years ago, it would be to “take my time” before making a diagnosis.
The College of Veterinarians of Ontario found the well-known east-end animal doctor guilty of professional misconduct stemming back to a June 2011 emergency surgery of a German shepherd-Alaskan malamute mix.
According to the college’s decision, his three-month suspension begins June 1 with a condition requiring him to complete training courses in pain management and fracture cases and to write a 3,500-word paper on what he learns. Otherwise, it’s five months.
He also has to pay $85,000 to the college.
“It was an honest mistake, it wasn’t a reckless decision,” Mitelman, the director of VETS Toronto and Kingston Road Animal Hospital, told the Toronto Sun Thursday.
Mitelman, who made a public explanation on the hospital’s Facebook page Thursday, was one of three vets assigned to care for Dakota. The canine was unable to walk — after another dog jumped on her legs — when she was carried in by her owner, he said.
The first doctor arrived at the diagnosis of a herniated disc and administered treatments that he felt were appropriate. Mitelman continued looking into why the dog was paralyzed and recommended the owner see a neurology specialist or consider euthanasia, as there was no guarantee the dog would walk again.
It turned out the dog had a fractured leg.
According to the college, Mitelman “failed to ensure adequate X-rays” were taken to “identify the fracture of the right femur on a timely basis.” He also failed to properly examine, assess and monitor the dog, falsified records and failed to provide adequate pain management.
“Where the professional misconduct came was, for example, missing the fracture,” said Mitelman, whose clinic is located in the Kingston Rd.-Victoria Park Ave. area. “Because the fracture wasn’t acknowledged for several days and the dog didn’t look in pain — he was on painkillers, but insufficient amounts — that’s deemed below the standard practice.”
Mitelman repaired the fracture by installing a pin on June 24, 2011 and the animal was discharged without pain medication six days later, according to the college. The incision oozed blood and puss and the pin also began to protrude out of the dog’s hip.
The owner took the dog to another emergency clinic on Aug. 3 where it underwent more surgery, said the college. Dakota was euthanized on Oct. 5.
jyuen@postmedia.com
Veterinarian Jonathan Mitelman (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Toronto vet disciplined over dog's care | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun
By Jenny Yuen, Toronto Sun
First posted: Thursday, May 26, 2016 09:14 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, May 26, 2016 09:40 PM EDT
Veterinarian Jonathan Mitelman says if he could have changed one thing about his care for an arthritic 13-year-old dog that was euthanized five years ago, it would be to “take my time” before making a diagnosis.
The College of Veterinarians of Ontario found the well-known east-end animal doctor guilty of professional misconduct stemming back to a June 2011 emergency surgery of a German shepherd-Alaskan malamute mix.
According to the college’s decision, his three-month suspension begins June 1 with a condition requiring him to complete training courses in pain management and fracture cases and to write a 3,500-word paper on what he learns. Otherwise, it’s five months.
He also has to pay $85,000 to the college.
“It was an honest mistake, it wasn’t a reckless decision,” Mitelman, the director of VETS Toronto and Kingston Road Animal Hospital, told the Toronto Sun Thursday.
Mitelman, who made a public explanation on the hospital’s Facebook page Thursday, was one of three vets assigned to care for Dakota. The canine was unable to walk — after another dog jumped on her legs — when she was carried in by her owner, he said.
The first doctor arrived at the diagnosis of a herniated disc and administered treatments that he felt were appropriate. Mitelman continued looking into why the dog was paralyzed and recommended the owner see a neurology specialist or consider euthanasia, as there was no guarantee the dog would walk again.
It turned out the dog had a fractured leg.
According to the college, Mitelman “failed to ensure adequate X-rays” were taken to “identify the fracture of the right femur on a timely basis.” He also failed to properly examine, assess and monitor the dog, falsified records and failed to provide adequate pain management.
“Where the professional misconduct came was, for example, missing the fracture,” said Mitelman, whose clinic is located in the Kingston Rd.-Victoria Park Ave. area. “Because the fracture wasn’t acknowledged for several days and the dog didn’t look in pain — he was on painkillers, but insufficient amounts — that’s deemed below the standard practice.”
Mitelman repaired the fracture by installing a pin on June 24, 2011 and the animal was discharged without pain medication six days later, according to the college. The incision oozed blood and puss and the pin also began to protrude out of the dog’s hip.
The owner took the dog to another emergency clinic on Aug. 3 where it underwent more surgery, said the college. Dakota was euthanized on Oct. 5.
jyuen@postmedia.com
Veterinarian Jonathan Mitelman (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Toronto vet disciplined over dog's care | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun
