The website of Brewer Veterinary Clinic says that veterinarian Robert Feher has a "special emphasis on surgery – specializing in Orthopedics and intricate, detailed surgeries." Oh yeah? Let's take a look at Feher's record, and then you decide: Do you want his surgical "special" treatment for your pet?
Feher has a long record with the Maine Veterinary Board. If you know anything about Veterinary Boards, you know that they pretty much are loathe to discipline a vet, and rarely discipline a vet once, much less three times. What does it take to incite a vet board to actually discipline a vet three times? How bad does it have to be?
In 2000, the Maine Veterinary Board found that Feher had committed "GROSS NEGLIGENCE" in his treatment of a golden retriever in his care.
In 2002, the Maine Veterinary Board found Feher's behavior constituted "incompetence in the surgical repair of the fractured femur."
And in 2006, the Board found that he "failed to share the results of the subject dog's abnormal pre-operative blood work with the dog's owner prior to performing surgery on the subject dog, and that he failed to perform appropriate pre-operative blood work or urinalysis prior to the subject dog's second surgery." (I do NOT have a good feeling about what probably happened to that dog . . . )
Is this what you want for your pet? Gross negligence? Incompetent surgeries? Cutting into your pet repeatedly, on more than one occasion, and failing to discuss your pet's abnormal bloodwork with you before hand (pre-existing conditions that show up in bloodwork can indicate increased surgical risks) or failing to do pre-opeartive bloodwork or urine at all???????
This is the guy that wants to do "intricate, detailed surgeries" on your pet.
I'm thinking that's an offer you want to DECLINE.
In 2007, the State of Iowa's veterinary board also disciplined Feher. Feher, who went to vet school in Iowa, is also licensed in that state, and Iowa fined him $500 for failing to report to them the disciplinary action taken against him by Maine (which he is required to do).
Here are the excerpts from the Board documents, available online:
FEHER, Robert C.
License Number: VT503
License Type: Veterinarian
Case Number: VET-113
Disposition: Consent Agreement dated 7/13/00
Summary: Licensee admitted to gross negligence in his treatment of a client's golden retriever by failing to take x-rays and failing to treat the dog as aggressively as circumstances required. Licensee was issued a $1250 civil penalty and was ordered to pay $250 for investigative costs incurred by the board.
FEHER, ROBERT C.
License Number: VT503
License Type: Veterinarian
Case Number: VET-155
Disposition: Consent Agreement dated 12/2/02
Summary: Licensee admitted that a surgical procedure on a puppy failed to meet the standard of care, and that such conduct amounts to incompetence in the surgical repair of the fractured femur. Licensee agreed to a censure and a $500 civil penalty. Licensee also agreed to obtain 12 hours of continuing professional education in orthopedics.
FEHER, ROBERT C.
License Number: VT503
License Type: Veterinarian
Complaint Number: 2005-VET-2049
Disposition: Consent Agreement dated 8/1/06
Summary: Licensee admitted that he failed to share the results of the subject dog's abnormal pre-operative blood work with the dog's owner prior to performing surgery on the subject dog, and that he failed to perform appropriate pre-operative blood work or urinalysis prior to the subject dog's second surgery. Licensee agreed to a censure and also agreed to obtain eight hours of continuing professional education in the field of internal medicine.
Links:
See Maine Disciplinary Records here
