Last month, a ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld the state’s decision to place celebrity veterinarian Doctor Jan Pol, the well-known 77-year-old star of Nat Geo Wild’s The Incredible Dr. Pol, on professional probation for negligence. This decision, detailed in court records, affirms a 2018 order from the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The probation stems from findings of negligence in Dr. Pol’s surgical procedures on a dog and treatment of a horse.
The Case Against Doctor Jan Pol: A Timeline of Events
The legal proceedings against Doctor Jan Pol trace back to 2013. A television viewer raised concerns about the veterinarian’s technique during an ovariohysterectomy performed on a dog, as seen on his show. Following this, the Michigan attorney general launched an investigation, leading to a formal complaint against Doctor Jan Pol. The অভিযোগ centered on several alleged procedural lapses: failure to intubate the dog during surgery, not utilizing electronic monitoring equipment, inadequate assistance sought in locating the dog’s uterus, and the absence of surgical cap, mask, and gown during the operation.
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In 2015, a second complaint was filed, this time by horse owners. They alleged that Doctor Jan Pol did not use a cap, gown, or gloves while treating a laceration on their horse’s leg. Furthermore, it was claimed he neglected to trim the hair around the wound before treatment.
An administrative law judge reviewed both complaints. Initially, the judge concluded that the state had not sufficiently demonstrated negligence or incompetence in Doctor Jan Pol’s care of either the dog or the horse. However, LARA officials partially overruled this decision. They placed Doctor Jan Pol on probation for a period ranging from one day to a year. The grounds for probation, according to court records, were specifically “failure to intubate the dog during the procedure, failure to wear a surgical mask and gown during the procedure, and failure to clip the hair around the horse’s wound prior to suturing the wound.”
As part of the disciplinary action, Doctor Jan Pol was mandated to serve probation, cover all associated costs, and complete continuing education courses focusing on small animal surgical preparation and monitoring, as well as aseptic techniques for both small and large animals.
Doctor Jan Pol appealed LARA’s order, but the recent ruling by the appeals court on December 19th upheld the original decision, leaving the probation in place.
Doctor Jan Pol’s History of Challenges with LARA
This recent case is not an isolated incident in Doctor Jan Pol’s professional history. In 2012, he faced probation related to a 2010 case where he was accused of misinterpreting a canine ultrasound (details of that 2012 case here). Adding to this, in 2014, another veterinarian filed a separate complaint against Doctor Pol concerning a surgery on a Boston terrier injured by a car. The complaint alleged Doctor Pol did not wear sterile surgical attire during this procedure. In response to this, LARA initially ordered Doctor Pol to pay a $500 fine and serve a year of probation. However, in 2016, the Michigan Court of Appeals overturned this disciplinary action, citing insufficient evidence.
Doctor Jan Pol examining a horse, reflecting his experience in large animal veterinary care, a focus of the negligence case and his ongoing practice in rural Michigan.
The Future for ‘The Incredible Doctor Pol’
Doctor Jan Pol, a veterinarian with a career spanning back to the 1970s in rural Michigan, has reportedly treated over 20,000 patients, as noted by IMDb. His popular TV show, The Incredible Dr. Pol, now in its 16th season, showcases his diverse veterinary practice, caring for a wide range of animals across rural Michigan.
Despite this latest legal setback, Doctor Jan Pol continues to enjoy considerable public support. Furthermore, several past disciplinary actions against him have been successfully appealed. His attorney, Christopher S. Patterson, JD, expressed confidence that the current appeals process will not negatively impact the television show. Patterson stated to dvm360, “This case demonstrates how the Michigan Veterinary Board makes arbitrary decisions. The Board even agreed that Dr. Pol’s care was competent. We have had these issues with the Board previously, which resulted in the Michigan Court of Appeals reversing the Board for arbitrary and capricious decision-making. Doctor Jan Pol will continue to challenge the Board until a fair and rational process is used for review of veterinary care.” This suggests that while the probation ruling stands, the legal battles for Doctor Jan Pol may not be over.
