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- Overview of practice standards
- About the Practice Standards Scheme
- Which accreditation is right for your practice and how to apply
- What happens during an assessment?
- About Stanley, our support system for the PSS
- How do I update my accredited-practice information?
- How can I promote my RCVS accreditation?
- Additional resources
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- Coronavirus (Covid-19)
- Contact the Advice Team
- Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons
- Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses
- GDPR – RCVS information and Q&As
- Advice on Schedule 3
- FAQs – Common medicines pitfalls
- FAQs – Routine veterinary practice and clinical veterinary research
- Dealing with Difficult Situations webinar recordings
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Disciplinary Committee hearings
Disciplinary Hearings are the culmination of the RCVS concerns procedure.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee (DC) hear cases relating to registered veterinary surgeons and the Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee (VN DC) hear cases relating to registered veterinary nurses both follow court procedures. Complaints must be proven to the highest civil standard of proof ie the Committee must be satisfied 'so as to be sure' the facts have occurred as alleged by the College. The Committee must also be satisfied that the facts as proved amount to serious professional misconduct.
Guidance on the Disciplinary Committee’s functions, decision-making, and approach to sanctions can be found in the “Disciplinary Committee Sanctions Guidance for Veterinary Surgeons cases” which was re-issued in August 2020 and is used as an aid to decision making at Disciplinary Hearings. This guidance document (available to download from the bottom of this page) should be read in conjunction with the 'Disciplinary Committee Manual,' re-issued in September 2013.
If you are attending a hearing as a witness, or would like an overview of the procedure of a Disciplinary Hearing you can read our section on 'RCVS witness information' for further information.
If found guilty of serious professional misconduct and ordered to be suspended or struck off the Register, a veterinary surgeon may appeal to the Privy Council within 28 days. If appealed, the order does not take effect unless and until it is upheld by the Privy Council.
If found guilty of serious professional misconduct and ordered to be suspended or struck off the Register, a registered veterinary nurse may at any time within 28 days from the notice of direction, lodge an appeal which will be considered in accordance with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Veterinary Nurse Conduct and Discipline Rules 2014.
Disciplinary Committee hearings are generally conducted in public although some evidence may be heard in private where the Committee consider it appropriate.
Veterinary surgeons and RVNs who have appeared before the DC during the last 3 years are as follows:
2022
| Date | Respondent | Documents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/07/2022 | Gracey, James | The hearing was adjourned on 22 July 2022 and will resume on 1 December 2022. | |
| 14/06/2022 | McKinstry, Alexander Rutherford, Andrew Inman, Rebecca |
Decision of Disciplinary Committee on Facts and Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
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| 08/06/2022 | Seymour-Hamilton, Warwick John |
||
| 25/05/2022 | Doherty, Daniel | Decision of Disciplinary Committee on Facts and Unfitness to Practice Decision of Disciplinary Committee on Respondent's Application for Recusal |
This hearing covered proceedings from the adjourned hearing on 6 April 2022. |
| 25/04/2022 | Roger, Paul Anderson | Decision of Disciplinary Committee on Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
This hearing covered proceedings from the adjourned hearing on 19 November 2021. |
| 23/03/22 | Mostert, Dr Craig | Mr Mostert lodged an appeal against the Disciplinary Committee decision with the Privy Council on 28 April 2022. He therefore remains on the Register pending the outcome of the appeal. | |
| 10/03/22 | Surdila, Dr Claudia Elena | ||
| 07/03/22 | Hill, Dr Anke | ||
| 14/02/22 | Dingemanse, Dr Walter | ||
| 31/01/22 | Mullen, Anne Mary | Decision of Disciplinary Committee on Proceeding in Absence Decision of Disciplinary Committee on Facts Decision of Disciplinary Committee as to Disgraceful Conduct |
|
| 12/01/22 | Botes, Marthinus Ryk | Decision of Finding Facts and Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
Dr Botes lodged an appeal against the Disciplinary Committee decision with the Privy Council on 10 February 2022. He therefore remains on the Register pending the outcome of the appeal. |
2021
| Date | Respondent | Documents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/12/21 | Samuel, Gary James Cassius | ||
| 04/08/21 | Dobson, Andrew Michael | ||
| 21/07/21 | Padron Vega, Laura | ||
| 09/07/21 | Dyson, Sue | Decision of Finding of Facts, Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect and Sanction |
This hearing covered proceedings from the adjourned hearing on 13 November 2020. |
| 25/06/21 | Seymour-Hamilton, Warwick J. | ||
| 22/06/21 | Henry, Louise | Decision on Finding of Facts, Disgraceful Conduct and Sanction |
|
| 16/06/21 | Benson, Laura | Decision on Facts and on Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
|
| 26/05/21 | Eccles, David Henry | Decision of the Disciplinary Committee at the Resumed Hearing Following Postponement of Judgement |
A judgement was postponed by the Disciplinary Committee on 6 November 2018. The hearing resumed on 26 May 2021. |
| 18/05/21 | Chalkley, David | ||
| 11/05/21 | Burrows, Nicola Jade | Decision on Facts and on Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
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| 04/03/21 | X Registered Nurse | ||
| 01/03/21 | Fures, Vanja | Decision of the Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
|
| 25/02/21 | Crawford, Andrew Robert | ||
| 20/01/21 | Hancock, Karen Tracey |
2020
| Date | Respondent | Documents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14/12/20 | Chalkey, David |
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| 09/12/20 | Padron Vega, Laura |
Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Application for Restoration |
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| 02/11/20 | Chaney, Paul |
Decision on Facts and Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
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| 12/10/20 | Lomax, Stephen Kiernan |
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| 28/09/20 | Wilson, Stephen Cargill |
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| 01/07/20 | Seymour-Hamilton, Warwick J. |
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| 25/06/20 | Wood, Simon Peter |
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| 15/01/20 | Gunn, John |
Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
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| 13/01/20 | Shah, Rahul Chandulal |
Decision of the Committee on Disgraceful Conduct |