Smith (Appellant) v Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (Respondent)
Case ID: JCPC 2018/0102
Jurisdiction: The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Case summary
Issue(s)
- Whether it was disproportionate and excessive for the Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (the "Disciplinary Committee") to have directed that the appellant’s name be removed from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons.
- Whether the Disciplinary Committee’s findings of disgraceful conduct in relation to certain charges against the appellant were unjustified on the facts and unduly censorious.
Facts
The appellant qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1953. On 16 January 2017, he euthanised an unwell dog by means of direct intra-cardiac injection. Disciplinary proceedings were subsequently brought against him. He was accused and found guilty of
- providing inadequate veterinary care and causing unnecessary suffering to the dog (by failing to use an acceptable method of euthanasia) and
- failing to communicate adequately with the dog’s owner and to obtain his informed consent to the procedure. The Disciplinary Committee found that the appellant was guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect and directed that the appellant’s name be removed from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons. The appellant now appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
Parties
Appellant(s)
John Hendrie Smith
Respondent(s)
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Appeal
Justices
Lord Kerr, Lord Wilson, Lord Lloyd-Jones
Hearing start date
24 Mar 2020
Hearing finish date
24 Mar 2020