Routine Visit Leads To Suspension Of Veterinarian's License

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp...5&nav=15MVSe9Y

November 1st, 2004

As of today, a local veterinarian can no longer practice in the year 2004. Fortunately it doesn't happen often, but as News 3 Investigator Darcy Spears tells us, one vet's licensee is being suspended after a routine visit turns into a deadly mistake, and maybe more than a mistake, according to the state. For one family, it's a heartbreaking loss, but they have gotten justice.

This is Gardner. By all signs, a healthy, happy dog in need of standard shots shortly after the Slensky family moved to Henderson from Florida. They took their 3-year-old Beagle to the Green Valley Animal Hospital, owned and operated by Dr. Bradley Gilman. Ashley and her mother, Hope, told the vet Gardner was having some minor stomach problems.

Dr. Gilman wanted to check Gardner's intestine for blockage, so he ordered an x-ray. He told the Slensky's they would get a call when their dog's exam was done. "So they called us and said it looks like he has been hit over the head with a two by four." Shocked, they raced back to the clinic.

"When we picked up Gardner, Ashley and I, he took two steps and collapsed right in front of us. We went on the floor and said, come on Gardener, get on up. The dog wouldn't get up. The doctor did nothing to help us." Instead, Dr. Gilman sent the Slensky's to the Animal Emergency Center on Sahara.

They took him there, only to be told their beloved beagle was brain dead. Fred Slensky wanted answers from Dr. Gilman. "What did you do to my dog? His pupils are dilated, he's half-dead. What did you do to him? I couldn't believe that a half an hour ago, this dog was normal. What did you do?"

The Slensky's filed a complaint with the Nevada State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. It wasn't the first complaint the state had on Dr. Gilman. In 1995 the board charged Gilman with negligence because he failed to meet the standard of practice for follow-up after an orthopedic surgery. He was also found incompetent for violations of record keeping and drug and surgery logs.

Gardner's was the second case against Dr. Gilman. Dr. Jon Pennell is board president. "The board did an investigation to find out what really happened to Gardner. It was found that during the time he was there, he was x-rayed, hit his head, and was tied up on a choke leash, just was almost non-responsive."

Dr. Gilman had an unlicensed technician take Gardner's x-rays, a violation of state law. The board found Gilman guilty of two counts of incompetence, one count of negligence and one ethics violation for failing to care for Gardner as he lay dying in his clinic. "The board felt he should have addressed the issue right then, immediate help, and he did not."

Surprisingly, this all took place in 1998. It's taken six years, while Gilman appealed the case all the way up to the state supreme court, before the suspension could finally start. The court upheld the board's decision, suspending his license for the next two months. Dr. Gilman refused to appear on camera or answer any questions. His office manager told News 3 he's looking forward to the suspension so he can spend time at his winter retreat away from his busy practice.