Chicago Man Operates on His Own Dog
Published June 22, 2011
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Note to future medical professionals: just because you've been trained to work on humans does not mean you're qualified to work on pets. Apparently, this advice needed to be transferred upon Chicago area medical professional Stewart Gibbs, who has just lost his job as a director of cardiovascular services after allegedly "performing surgery" on his own pet Doberman.
Gibbs, 44, was arrested late Sunday night after attempting to surgically operate on his Doberman. As the article in The Chicago Tribune puts it, Gibbs, who "appeared highly intoxicated," told police "he had tried to remove a cyst from under the dog's right ear."
Operating under his pet's right ear was the wrong move for Gibbs.
In a statement released today, the DuPage Medical Group said Gibbs had been let go from the employ of the company.
The Doberman, named Foley, was taken and treated at a local veterinary center, and is currently with Chicago Animal Care and Control.
We're not really sure what would possess anyone to start operating on their own pet, drunk or not. Clearly, this was a terrible decision.
What do you think about this odd case? Let us know in a comment.
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Comments (9)
My dog just got attacked by a wolf hybrid that lives down the road just last weekend (late Friday night - rural community). I cleaned up the wounds (shaved the hair around them), put iodine on them, and taped them up myself. Vet couldn't see me for a couple of days and I knew that. GEE, Hope I don't have to do time in the state pokey, now. Do you think I should turn myself in? Would that make all you CitySlicks happy? I sure want you to be happy!
Agree, farmer's do things to their livestock frequently that some might say need done by a vet. If they know what they are doing, have at it. Who called the police on the surgeon? I don't think I would have attempted a surgery while I had been tipping the bottle...but if he had the means and knowledge to do it while sober, so what?
Having grown up on a farm, and still living on one, I can say that I have performed surgeries on livestock and pets on numerous occasions. The idea that one must be specially trained to something beneficial is idiotic. One of the biggest problems in our society- especially in large cities- is that people always want to make somebody else's business their own. The other is that they always look to government to invoke their ideas of what is right or proper on others.
After some of the quawk doctors who've treated me, I would personally prefer for my veterinarian to care for ME... I can't imagine a cyst reemoval being a really big deal, I have brain tumors and basically the first good doctor I had was my neurosurgeon and neurolgist. Who by the way I found on my own after my primary physician told me I DIDN'T HAVE a neurolgical problem. I worked on an ambulance in my early 30's and it certainly saved MY LIFE!
dude named his dog foley?? that's another term for an indwelling urinary catheter. poor pup.
why not he could bury his mistakes as usual
While I may understand a surgeon trying to operate his dog in a desperate attempt to save the dog's life (intoxicated or not), please let's not be stupid. Canine anatomy is DIFFERENT from human anatomy. This is not like saying that a cardiologist shouldn't give medical advice on back pain 'cause he isn't an orthopedician, this is as if I, who have translated more than enough medical stuff, gave serious advice about medications to a friend of mine just for the hell of it. I've had many dogs and cysts aren't life threatening stuff, ok maybe the doggie was in pain.. but come on, just call a vet I say!