CVETS - Columbia Veterinary Emergency Trauma and Specialty

Write a Review803-995-8913

SOME IMPORTANT FACTS
• Diana Brown Phillips (license #2148) works at CVETS in Columbia, SC.
• While working at another emergency clinic in South Carolina she treated our 3-pound chihuahua, Maggie, for seizures on 04/29/2018. In the course of treating Maggie, she prescribed a dose of 30 mg of phenobarbital to be administered 4 times in a 24-hour period. Three of these doses were administered before the neurologist discovered the overdose the next morning. By this time Maggie was already in a coma. We were asked if we wanted to make her a DNR (do not resuscitate) status as her prognosis was guarded. Her respiratory rate was so high they were concerned she would not make it. I ended up sleeping in the car in the parking lot of the clinic that night so I could frequently check in on her. After many days, Maggie slowly emerged from her coma and we were able to bring her home, but those days of waiting for her to wake up were agonizing.

• On 05/01/2018, I filed a complaint with the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. I finally received the results of the investigation on 05/20/2019. Diana Brown Phillips admitted that her actions constitute a “violation of S.C. Code Ann.40-69-110(A)(12) in that Respondent engaged in conduct determined by the Board to be incompetent or negligent in the practice of veterinary medicine as evident by Respondent ordering and administering improper doses of phenobarbital when treating a dog.” Ms. Phillips later stated “she intended to load Maggie with only 4 mg/kg IV QID of phenobarbital for four doses.” How does one mistake 30 mg for 4 mg?

• Diana Brown Phillips has been publicly reprimanded and ordered to pay a fine of 140.00 dollars to cover the cost of the investigation. While it is not on the LLR.sc.gov website yet, I have been assured it will be made available to the public very soon, so you may verify this information yourself.