Matthew White
1/5
This review is written to shed light on the actions of Dr. Madeline Fujishiro that resulted in the tragic and preventable death of my service animal, Coco. Based on an extensive investigation conducted by my research team in consultation with experts in the veterinary field and using the most advanced AI technology, we believe that Dr. Fujishiro's decisions and actions did not align with the expected standard of care required, leading to Coco's severe suffering and preventable death.
Despite clear signs of a serious immune disorder, Dr. Fujishiro failed to provide immediate treatment to stabilize Coco. Within one day, she had test results indicating a severe autoimmune disorder affecting her red blood cells. Then only 3 days later an outside lab confirmed bone marrow involvement. These findings indicated that Coco needed immediate treatment.
For weeks, Coco's health continued to decline alarmingly, and no appropriate treatment was initiated, in fact we would ultimately bring her to CASE over 11 times in only an 8-week period spending over $20,000 trying to save her life.
Dr. Fujishiro focused on discovering the underlying disease rather than treating symptoms, which goes against the standard of veterinary care. We now know that Dr. Fujishiro should have performed additional tests like ANA and urinalysis which was recommended by a pathologist but ignored by Dr. Fujishiro. Her own colleague later discovered her mistakes, including failing to follow up on missing lab results and not conducting necessary tests but by this time it was too late for Coco.
Coco was suffering from a treatable autoimmune condition that can go into remission but required immediate action. However, it took nearly two months and only after Coco was hospitalized did Dr. Fujishiro finally prescribe the appropriate medication and dosage. By the time Dr. Fujishiro acted appropriately, Coco's liver had tripled in size, her kidneys were decimated, she was jaundiced, and she could not eat, walk or stand.
We trusted Dr. Fujishiro's competence as in internal medicine specialist and expected her to act to treat Coco's condition. A fundamental principle of veterinary care is to stabilize a patient while investigating the underlying cause. Dr. Fujishiro's actions deviated sharply from this standard, resulting in severe and unnecessary suffering for Coco.
Coco was more than a service animal; she was a beloved family member and a loyal companion who faithfully supported me through multiple reconstructive surgeries. Her death has caused significant emotional distress to our family, overshadowing the birth of our first child. Coco’s littermate, Riley, searches the house and cries for her nightly. I am now forced to try to adapt to life without the service animal I had by my side for nearly 9 years and to cope with the shocking circumstances that cut her life short.
To add insult to injury, Coco was returned from CASE's ER on her last day of life in a deplorable state, covered in urine and feces with severe bruising covering her abdomen and legs with no explanation provided by CASE staff. An analysis of her records revealed that she was mishandled by CASE staff during abdominal X-rays the night before her death, the trauma causing blood vessels to rupture in both thighs.
To honor Coco, we are petitioning the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine to review Coco’s case and make a determination regarding Dr. Fujishiro's actions and to institute appropriate disciplinary action. We are also exploring all legal options to seek accountability for those involved.
Given our experience, we strongly urge anyone considering veterinary care to thoroughly evaluate their options and ensure that their chosen provider adheres to the highest standards of care. If your service animal or pet suffered or passed away under the care of Dr. Fujishiro or any other veterinarian at CASE, please contact us, we want to hear from you.
We all miss you Coco!
Coco's story has just begun...
