In memory and honor of one very special cat. How Edward J. Nichols, DVM, Crestway Animal Clinic, San Antonio, Texas, treated Suki.
What Happened to Suki...and What Happened to Me: A Timeline
Suki's Story
Suki's medical records from Ed Nichols, Crestway Animal Clinic, San Antonio, July 17-1996 to April 19, 1999 (13 visits total): Suki's Lab Work, October 13, 1996 Suki's Lab Work, June 27, 1998 Suki's Lab Work, March 22, 1999 Suki's Lab Work, April 19, 1999
Suki's medical records from Perrin 410 Animal Hospital, April 20-26, 1999: Suki's Hospital Lab Work, April 23, 1999 Suki's Hospital Lab Work, April 25, 1999
Allegations Against Ed Nichols, DVM, Crestway Animal Clinic, San Antonio: Correspondence from the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners re my complaint against Ed Nichols (complaint dismissed)
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July 17, 1996I
take Suki to Edward J. Nichols, DVM, Crestway Animal Clinic. Patient history
consists of CNS disorder, vestibular syndrome in 1995, and reference to treatment for
hyperthyroidism at A&M. PE (physical examination) is blank. B12 injection. .2mg
dexamethasone. No description of patient symptoms, behavior, or appearance.
Weight 7 lbs. Temp 101.4 Suki is 17. July
24, 1996 2nd
visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. .2mg dexamethasone. .5 cc flocillin injection.
No weight. No temperature. No PE. No description of patient symptoms, behavior,
or appearance. October
11, 1996 (wrong date on chart, should be October 12, 1996) 3rd
visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. .5 B12 injection. .3 dexamethasone. 100 LRS
subQ. Weight 6.9 lbs. No temp. No PE. description of patient symptoms, behavior,
or appearance. Lab work 10/13/96 February
3, 1997 4th
visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. 100cc LRS subQ. B complex injection. No weight.
No temperature. PE: (illegible). No description of patient symptoms or
appearance. August
2, 1997 (wrong date on chart, should be August 30, 1997) 5th
visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. .25cc Depo Medrol for arthritis. Cosequin. .5cc
comb B shot. 100cc LRS SQ. (illegible) Weight 7 lbs. No temperature. PE:
“ok.” No description of patient symptoms, behavior, or appearance. January
3, 1998 6th
visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. 100cc LRS subQ. Weight 7.4 lbs. Scale teeth.
Flo .7ccSQ. No temperature. No PE. No description of patient symptoms, behavior,
or appearance. June
26, 1998 7th
visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. Bloodwork. 6.7 lbs.
No temperature. .2 dexamethasone. B12. Bcomb.
Urinalysis: (illegible) 1.015. No PE. No description of patient symptoms,
behavior, or appearance. Lab work 6/26/98 December
5, 1998 8th
visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. .1 dexamethasone. B12 Bcomb .5. Tumil-K 460mg x
10 ˝ (illegible). Cosequin.
Nutrical. Advantage. Weight 6.2 lbs. No temperature. 100cc LRS. No PE. No
description of patient symptoms, behavior, or appearance. December
31, 1998 I
take Suki to the Broadway Emergency Clinic. Tooth abscess. Clindacure is prescribed.
Suki's chart from Broadway ER, 12/31/98 January
4, 1999 9th
visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. “Pulled tooth.” .2 dexamethasone. B12 Bcomb
.5 flo .6. No weight. No
temperature. No PE. No description of patient symptoms, behavior, or appearance. March
22, 1999 10th
visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. Weight 6 lbs. No temperature. Bcomb .5. .2
dexamethasone SQ. Nutrical. No PE. No description of patient symptoms, behavior,
or appearance. Lab Work March 22, 1999 March
24, 1999 11th
visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. “Fluids.” .5cc Winstrol injection. No
weight. No temperature. No PE. No description of patient symptoms, behavior, or
appearance. April
7, 1999 12th
visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. Depo (Medrol) .5 for arthritis. B12. “Bag of
fluids.” No weight. No temperature. No PE. No description of patient symptoms,
behavior, or appearance. April
19, 1999 13th
and final visit to Crestway Animal Clinic. Temperature 101. “v. dehydrated.” Abscessed
premolar – extract under [nitrous oxide/oxygen/halothane]. .6cc flo. “SX.”(
it looks
like there is an “SX” – veterinary abbreviation for surgery.
Don’t take my word for it,
Review the April 19, 1999 records and see
for yourself. It sure looks like SX to me.)
Bcomb B12 .5. 1mg dexamethasone SQ. 100cc LRS SQ. “release home tonight.”
“multiple organ shutdown” is circled on the patient chart entry. Lab work
April 19, 1999 April
20, 1999 I
take Suki to Perrin 410 Animal Hospital. Hospital
patient chart. April
21 – 25, 1999 Suki
is treated by four veterinarians at Perrin 410 Animal Hospital. Hospital
patient chart April
23, 1999 Suki’s first lab work at Perrin 410 Hospital. Hospital Lab Work 4/23/1999 April 24, 1999 Notation
on record: "owner concerned with cat's drooping jaw - apparent fracture of
the left mandible." Hospital
patient chart April
25, 1999 Suki’s
second and final lab work at Perrin 410. Hospital
Lab Work 4/25/1999. April
26, 1999 Suki
dies. June
26, 1999 I
go to Crestway Animal Clinic to obtain Suki’s medical records. Ed Nichols
calls the sheriff. December
7, 1999 I
file a 54-page complaint against Edward J. Nichols, DVM, Crestway Animal Clinic with the
Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TSBVME). December
17, 1999 I
receive letter from the TBVME stating that a case number has been assigned to
my complaint. Case #00061 Letter dated 12/17/99 July
19, 2000 I
receive letter from the TBVME stating that an informal conference on the
allegations against Edward J. Nichols, DVM, is set for August 17, 2000. Letter
dated 7/19/2000 August
17, 2000 I
attend informal conference in Austin, held by the TSBVME Enforcement Committee
regarding my complaint against Edward J. Nichols, DVM. Attendees: Martin E.
Garcia, DVM, board member; plus the members of the committee: Ron Allen,
executive director; Lee Mathews, attorney for the board; Peter Hartline,
director of enforcement; Dennis Barker, investigator (replacing Jon Long,
original investigator on this case), Edward J. Nichols, DVM. Outcome: Martin E.
Garcia, DVM, announces that no violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct
of the Texas Veterinary Licensing Act occurred in this case. See A
State of Disgrace: Is the TBVME Really Protecting the Public? August
21, 2000 I receive letter from the TSBVME stating that my complaint against Edward J. Nichols, DVM, has been dismissed. Letter dated 8/21/2000 May
4, 2004 I testify to the Sunset Commission in Austin, Texas, regarding my unsatisfactory experience with the complaint review process at the TSBVME, and make recommendations for improving the process, including the following: the addition of a second board member and a public member on the Enforcement Committee; the committee should be able to determine violations of a nonmedical nature; and that disciplinary records be made more easily available to the public. 2004 The
79th Texas Legislature passes HB 1131 which includes changes to the
complaint review process of the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical
Examiners, including the addition of a second board vet and a public member to
be present at all informal conferences; that the committee will have the
authority to determine violations of a nonmedical nature; and that the
disciplinary records be made more easily available to the public The bill
goes into effect September 1, 2005. See Sunset
Changes to Vet Board July
21, 2005 I
am served with a lawsuit by Edward J. Nichols, DVM, and Edward J. Nichols, d/b/a
Crestway Animal Clinic, by his attorneys of record Ann Comerio and Karen Vowell,
(Cause No. 2005-CI-11391) for libel regarding the statements on my website
vetabusenetwork.com, and for slander for my testimony to the Sunset Commission,
along with an application for temporary and permanent injunction and temporary restraining order
demanding I
remove from my web site his name, the name of Crestway Animal Clinic, and all
references to his treatment of Suki. Other claims
in the petition include tortious interference with business prospects, business disparagement,
and intentional infliction of emotional distress. My attorneys of record are
Ricardo Cedillo and David Denton of Davis, Cedillo, and Mendoza. July
28, 2005 A hearing on the temporary injunction is held in the Bexar County District Court, San Antonio, Texas, .the Hon. Michael Peden presiding. Ed. Nichols' motion for temporary injunction is denied. Order
denying temporary injunction issued by Judge Peden.
December
2005 Nichols
files appeal with the 4th Court of Appeals. No.
04-06-00070-CV 2006 Discovery begins in Nichols v. Catalano. September
13, 2006 4th Court of Appeals affirms the trial court’s order denying Nichols' temporary injunction and denies Nichols' appeal. Judgment entered against Nichols.
February
8, 2007 I
testify at the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners public meeting.
March
21-22, 2007 CBS-11
in Dallas/Ft. Worth does a two-part investigative series called “Bad
Vets.” I am interviewed for Part 2. Investigative reporter/anchor Tracy
Rowlett covers the Texas vet board’s dismissal rate of 92 percent of
complaints filed in Texas on veterinary negligence and malpractice. May 2007 Discovery in Nichols v. Catalano ends. June
14, 2007 I
testify at the TBVME public board meeting. October
11, 2007 I
testify at the TBVME public board meeting. February
14, 2008 I
testify at the TBVME public board meeting. March
10, 2008 After two and a half years of litigation, trial is set for Cause No. 2005-CI-1139, Nichols v. Catalano, in Bexar County District Court, the Hon. Peter Sakai presiding. March 10, 2008 Settlement announcement made in Bexar County District Court. The case of Edward J. Nichols and Crestway Animal Clinic v. Julie Catalano was dismissed with finality by Judge Peter Sakai.. I testify at the TBVME public board meeting. Coming soon...More information and documents regarding this lawsuit
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