High Court, on appeal from a decision of the Veterinary Council of Ireland, reduced the suspension of a veterinarian from two months to one month, on the grounds that: (a) the decision to operate on a different leg to that consented to by the owner amounted to misconduct, and this had been admitted; but (b) there had been no harm to the animal and the veterinarian had a previously unblemished record; and (c) given the abundance of mitigating factors, the initial sanction had been unduly severe.
Veterinary Practice Act 2005 – Fitness to Practice Committee (FTPC) – Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) – professional misconduct – informed consent – suspension – appeal – mitigation – aggravating factors – consent form – clinical decision – referral practice – elective surgery – disciplinary charges – sanction reduction – High Court – veterinarian – canine surgery – consent discrepancy – remedial action – unblemished record – COVID-related emergency
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