From: eberg@chinet.chi.il.us (Erik Arthur Berg)
Subject: Re: Shedd belugas update
Organization: Chinet - Public Access UNIX
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 19:53:00 GMT



In <9209291802.AA10165@super.super.org> wheeler@SUPER.ORG (Ferrell S. Wheeler)
writes:

>According to a report on WBBM-TV (CBS) news in Chicago, Dr. Jeff Boehm, the
>veterinarian who injected two beluga whales with medication for the
>treatment of parasites the day they died, was practicing medicine without a
>valid state license.  The 30-year-old veterinarian has been working as the
>Shedd's chief veterinarian since April of this year.
 
>The Shedd claims the Department of Professional Regulations was notified
>when Dr. Boehm came to Illinois from California where he was previously
>practicing, and was informed on more than occasion by the agency that he had
>until October to file his paperwork.
 
>Joe Haughey, a representative from the Department of Professional
>Regulations, stated no one from their office ever told Boehm he had until
>October to apply for a license. "The statue requires that a person have a
>valid state license prior to engaging in the practice of veterinary 
>medicine."  Haughey said the first time they heard from Boehm was last week, 
>four days after the whales died.  
>The Illinois Department of Professional Regulations states he's breaking the 
>law and Boehm could face criminal charges.
 
    I have been a volunteer at the Shedd Aquarium since 1987 working in the
Marine Mammals department and the Fishes department.  I have also personally
met Dr. Boehm.  Tuesday, September 29th Dr. Boehm and Mr. William Braker,
the aquarium Director spoke to the volunteers about the death of the whales.
Dr. Boehm is a licensed veterinarian in the state of California.  He previously
worked with marine mammals at the Los Angeles Zoo and Sea World.  He is 
considered a marine mammals specialist.  Veterinarians take national tests for
licensing.  California doesn't have a reciprocity agreement with Illinois
which means Dr. Boehm may have to retake the test in Illinois.  I believe that
he won't be required to be re-tested if his boards are high enough but I'm not
sure.  If Illinois had a reciprocity agreement with California he would only
have to show proof of his California license and pay a fee to practice in
Illinois. The licensing process is only offered by the office twice a year, 
October being the next date. 

    I have dealt with the state's Department of Professional Regulation (for
a Professional Engineer's license) and am familiar with their procedures.  I
am skeptical about their statements and tend to believe Dr. Boehm's version.
I know, I know; I'm connected to the Shedd, why should you listen to me?
I'm not saying that this isn't an important factor and should be ignored.
The important thing now is to understand exactly why the whales died and
unfortunately most of the recent press seems to suggest that Dr. Boehm was
somehow negligent and that his lack of an Illinois license is proof.  All
medical decisions about the whales were discussed with Dr. Brian Joesph, a
licensed vet at the Minneapolis Zoo as well as with the other Shedd vet and
marine mammal staff (with many combined years of mammal experience) before
any meds were administered.  The drug is used for many kinds of animals and
humans and has been used on cetaceans before.  The actual remaining amount 
of the drug is being tested by three different labs and the tissue samples
from the necropsy were distributed to various experts around the country.
Hopefully the results from these tests will show what happened and why.  

    The beluga's death was a tragic event, one which will never be forgotten
by anyone connected with the Shedd Aquarium.  The professionalism and concern
for all the animals in the aquarium by the Shedd staff has always been beyond
criticism in my opinion.  The debate about captive mammals is an important
and difficult one and character assassination by the press, no matter how
subtle doesn't serve anyone. 

----
Erik Berg    eberg@chinet.chi.il.usa

 


Newsgroups: talk.politics.animals