Smith (Appellant) v Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (Respondent)

Case summary

Case ID

JCPC/2018/0102

Jurisdiction

United Kingdom

Parties

Appellant(s)

John Hendrie Smith

Respondent(s)

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Issue

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 ofproviding 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.

Date of issue

27 November 2018

Appeal

Justices

Lord Kerr

Lord Wilson

Lord Lloyd-Jones

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