Counting

I put a counter on the blog yesterday, on the suggestion of someone who is far more technologically adept than I. Count up over 130 now (9:19 p.m.). When I checked at around noon today, it was hovering near 35.

Why the sudden interest? Is it associated, perchance, with the phone call I made to President Skorton's office?

I spoke with a helpful woman there, to whom I briefly explained my interactions with the vet school staff. I indicated I was sending an email to the president (although I doubt he'll actually read it) and vet school dean, Dr. Kotlikoff. I told her I'd be CC'ing on Dr.'s Harvey and Horne, to prevent them from being blindsided, and to the person who is in charge of development at the Ag School, from where I graduated.

I explained that I'd been working with the person who is the vet school's 'quality service manager,' and that she'd be helpful in arranging a grant to defray some of the expenses.

Skorton's assistant recommended that I also include the provost, and that she'd alert the appropriate personnel that my email was coming through. Perhaps now I will be taken seriously.

I have no expectations of success.

If it occurred, what would success look like? A sincere apology from both good doctors, especially Dr. Harvey. I've had three vet school graduates tell me that he was beloved by all of the students in their classes, that he is a kind and generous man. I hope this is true. I'm not sure why he acted the way he acted with me (perhaps a particularly bad hair day?) but he was offensive to me and threatened the dog.

In addition, in reply to Dr. Harvey's question 'do you want a refund?' my answer is yes.
I told the intake doctor that he had my permission to euthanize the dog if it was anything more than a foreign body. 'We'll call,' he said. I told him he had my permission then, right at that very minute. He needn't call. It should have stopped there.

Instead, he called, when I told him he shouldn't. Both he and (especially) the surgeon failed to give me their educated opinion on the probability of recurrence. The surgeon proceeded with an operation she stated had up to a 50 percent probability of recurrence on a rescue dog.

We now have a rescue dog which has between a 10 and 50 percent chance (depending on who's asked! And who do I believe?) of having another intersussception. She's to be on a special diet with supplements the rest of her life. She also has chronic intermittent diarrhea. Trying to place healthy dogs is -- in the very best of times -- a challenge. Imagine the sales pitch needed for a dog who will have life long diarrhea intermittently. Oh, and this: there's a big chance she'll have a recurrence of the condition, so you may have to decide between another expensive, risky operation and euthanasia.

I don't like conflict. I would prefer to have this situation resolved. I can't help but imagine that in tomorrow's meeting at least two of the participants will be angry and defensive, particularly after reading the email I sent to Skorton et. al.

I suspect it will a 'he said, she said' scenario, with much CYA flying about. It will probably be a wasted hour of accusations and denials, when the entire situation could be resolve within in 3 minutes with this: We are sorry. We accept responsibility. And we're refunding you.

How do I know this won't happen? When I called Dr. Horne's assistant to schedule the meeting, I specifically gave dates and times when I was available. When she rang back, the date was correct, but the time was at the good doctors' convenience.

So much for customer service.

Can't help but add this. In reviewing the bill I received from Cornell, I see that I was charged $35 for a pack of 5 laparotomy sponges. I as a medical professional can purchase those same sponges off the internet for $0.67 each. Even the vet I use locally (a Cornell grad) grimaced when I told him of their charges. "Highway robbery." And all so students can experiment and learn on your animals.