Steven J. Ginsberg

Cruelty to animals left in his veterinarian care

Kalamazoo, MI

Aug. 31, 1999

Steven Ginsberg is a Veterinarian in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has reached a settlement with the Michigan Attorney General.

Ginsberg could have faced misdemeanor animal abuse or cruelty charges as well as the loss of his license to practice veterinary medicine but a plea settlement was reached. The terms of the settlement are below.

On Aug. 31 1999 a 7-month-old Springer Spaniel was admitted to Crestview Animal Hospital. The dog known as "Lucy" suffered from a broken spine after being hit by a car. Her owner requested that she be euthanized and paid for the services. Dr. Ginsberg did not euthanize the dog.

On the following morning (Sept. 2^nd) a technician found Lucy on the floor. The Technician stated to the authorities that when Ginsberg arrived to the clinic, he went to pick Lucy up to move her and she cried out in pain. He swung his arm and with his hand open, using his palm, he slugged her hard on her chest. She fell to her side. That same day, another technician's alleged to this same technician that Ginsberg had "dropped" Lucy on the cement floor the day before because he was angry with her while trying to put her in the cage.

Another technician alleged that Dr. Ginsberg on September 1 picked up Lucy from the x-ray table and threw her on the floor after becoming frustrated at her for not lying still during an x-ray. This same Technician in a transcript document alleged that she witnessed Ginsberg throw a dog with a spinal injury off the x-ray table.

On Lucy's medical records it stated she had received only one pain injection throughout her stay at the Crestview Animal Hospital.

After this incident many employees came forward and filed countless allegations of horrific abuse and neglect concerning animal patients. Following an investigation seven counts of animal abuse were charged against Ginsberg.

The allegations include allowing unlicensed personnel to treat animals; failing to maintain clinic hygiene, including failing to sterilize dental instruments and syringes after use; dispensing expired drugs and medication to animals; abusing and neglecting animals; and failing to timely euthanize some animals.

In an interview with the Kalamazoo Gazette, Ginsberg stated "With an open hand, I hit him [sic] on the side of his chest trying to get him to lay down…adding that the dog had a broken back, was in pain and was unable to lay down to receive treatment. I hit him right by the front legs, as soon as I did, it stopped crying. I'll use an open hand and hit them sometimes. I've slapped dogs sometimes, when they try to bite. But I don't believe I've been abusive to any dogs."

On October 14, 1999 a meeting was held which included five veterinarian technicians. Also in attendance were the Kalamazoo Animal Control officer, and the Director of the Kalamazoo Humane Society. The statements of the technicians were tape-recorded.

When the Technician who initially reported Ginsberg asked why he didn't euthanize the dog he stated he was going to do the back surgery on the dog himself. Another technician stated to that technician that he did not euthanize the dog because he had left for the day to go golfing and did not want to make the extra trip back to the clinic.

Lucy lay in a kennel for one week. Other than take an x-ray and one injection of pain medication, the doctor did nothing else to make hr comfortable or to prevent further complications. With the back injury, Lucy had no bladder control, so she was often lying in urine or feces.

On September 14^th Lucy's owner took her out of the clinic and took her to another veterinarian. The technician that initially reported Dr. Ginsberg assisted in the recover process for Lucy but after 2 weeks Lucy was euthanized on October 5^th because her quality of life would be marginal - she would never recover from her injuries, including the urinary incontinence.

Charges were filed with the Michigan Bureau of Health Services, the Kalamazoo Sheriff's department and the Kalamazoo Humane Society by both employees and past clients of Ginsberg. The complaint numbers are as follows: 69-99-2343-00; 69-99-2373-00; 69-99-2326-00; 69-99-2270-00 69-99-2026-00; 69-99-2228-00 and 69-99-2387-00. Count 1 = Unlawful Delegation; Count 2 = Clinic Hygiene; Count 3 Declawing Cats; Count 4 = Controlled Substance and Drug Storage; Count 5 = Animal Abuse and Neglect; Count 6 = Timely euthanization. All these counts are in pursuant to section 1623(7) of the Public Health code for Michigan.

The terms of the settlement are as follows:

• A license suspension for 30 days commencing on 10/1/01
• 2 years probation
• Quarterly meetings with a Board of Veterinary Medicine Member to review practices
• Continuing education addressing issues of patient management
• Continuing education classes offered at Michigan's Veterinarian Association
• Attending all regularly scheduled meetings of the local Veterinarian Association
• Provide a copy of his annual controlled substance inventory
• Pay a $2,000 fine to the State of Michigan with 90 days

CIS investigation into Dr. Ginsberg's practice found: 

1. Unlawful Delegation - Dr. Ginsberg delegated numerous tasks within the
 scope of the practice of veterinary medicine to unlicensed individuals. 

2. Clinic Hygiene - Dr. Ginsberg failed to: wear surgical gloves or masks
 during surgical procedures; sterilize surgical and dental instruments 
 between procedures; sterilize needles and syringes after injections; and 
 sterilize surgical tables following procedures. He also reused surgical 
 drapes following surgery. 

3. Declawing Cats - Dr. Ginsberg used super glue as part of his procedure to 
 declaw cats. 

4. Controlled Substance/Drug Storage - Dr. Ginsberg maintained expired 
 drugs and medication, which were dispensed to animals; failed to store 
 drugs securely; and failed to maintain controlled substance records related
 to the purchase, dispensing, and annual inventory; 

5. Timely Euthanization - Dr. Ginsberg delayed in euthanizing animals on a 
 number of occasions.

Pet owner Ron Thompson, whose dog Sheba strangled in the cage while at the vet's clinic, contemplated suing Ginsberg, who had practiced veterinary medicine for 30 years prior to the Lucy case. Mr. Thompson did not pursue the lawsuit but did file a complaint with the state.

Even Garett Boven, who worked maintaining Ginsberg lawn at the clinic, was one of the former employee’s who complained to the Animal Control Office.

References:

The Kalamazoo Gazette	The Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine
Justice for Lucy website	ARK online
CIS Office of Media Relations and Communications Press Release