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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 'Being a witness at a Disciplinary Committee hearing – frequently asked questions' 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:
2024
| Date | Respondent | Documents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04/11/2024 | Miles, Shakira | ||
| 14/10/2024 | Hauptfleisch, George Philippus | ||
| 07/10/24 | Bowles, Brian Cullen | Decision on Proceeding in Absence |
|
| 30/09/24 | Gurrin, Nicola Jane | The redactions applied to the Decision document relate to references to the health of a third party, which the Committee decided should be dealt with in private session. | |
| 24/09/24 | Parody, Janine Susan | The redactions applied to the Decision document relate to references to Dr Parody’s health, which the Committee decided should be dealt with in private session. | |
| 27/08/24 | Lesolle, Mpho Donald | ||
| 24/07/24 | Nicholls, Bronwyn Anne | ||
| 22/07/24 | Shillabeer, Edmund Harold | ||
| 11/07/24 | Yates, Paige |
|
The hearing has been adjourned and will shortly be re-listed. |
| 17/06/24 | Radev, Nikolay Kirilov | ||
| 11/06/24 | Rushton, Jamie Francis | ||
| 06/06/24 | Fioletti, Alberto Giacomo | Decision on Proceeding in Absence |
|
| 08/05/24 | Mulvey, Susan Catherine | Decision on Proceeding in Absence and Finding of Facts |
15/08/24 Although Dr Mulvey initially indicated her intention to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCDC) against the DC's decision, the JCDC has recently confirmed that Dr Mulvey did not pursue this appeal. As such, Dr Mulvey's name has now been removed from the Register. |
| 22/04/24 | Petrovic, Nebojsa | ||
| 15/04/24 | Makepeace, Matthew John | ||
| 03/04/24 | Murray, Kai | ||
| 26/03/24 | Alcock, Karen Marie | ||
| 18/03/24 | Mrs D, a Registered Veterinary Nurse | The Disciplinary Committee’s findings and decisions have been anonymised due to exceptional circumstances. | |
| 12/03/24 | Russell, Robert William | ||
| 19/02/24 | Francis, Jemma Louise | ||
| 12/02/24 | Kettle, Michael James | ||
2023
2022
| Date | Respondent | Documents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/12/22 | Gracey, James | Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on abuse of process and admissibility Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Findings of Fact Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
This hearing covered proceedings from the adjourned hearing on 22 July 2022. |
| 01/11/22 | Johnston, Donal | Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Facts and Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
This hearing covered proceedings from the adjourned hearing on 28 April 2022. |
| 25/10/22 | A, a Registered Veterinary Nurse | The Disciplinary Committee’s findings and decisions have been anonymised due to exceptional circumstances. | |
| 27/09/22 | Heyes, Katherine | ||
| 22/09/22 | Prichard, Stephen | ||
| 21/09/22 | Strangeway, Chelsea Jade | Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Proceeding in Absence Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Facts and Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
|
| 02/09/22 | Dyson, Sue | ||
| 22/08/22 | Hazelwood, Stephanie | ||
| 14/06/22 | McKinstry, Alexander Rutherford, Andrew Inman, Rebecca |
Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Facts and Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
|
| 08/06/22 | Seymour-Hamilton, Warwick John |
||
| 25/05/22 | Doherty, Daniel |
Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Facts and Unfitness to Practise Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Respondent's Application for Recusal |
This hearing covered proceedings from the adjourned hearing on 6 April 2022. |
| 25/04/22 | Roger, Paul Anderson | Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect |
This hearing covered proceedings from the adjourned hearing on 19 November 2021. |
| 24/03/22 | Registered Nurse | Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Proceeding in Absence and Finding of Facts Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Disgraceful Conduct in a Professional Respect and Sanction |
Due to exceptional circumstances, the Disciplinary Committee's findings and decisions in this case have been anonymised, and no press release has been issued. |
| 23/03/22 | Mostert, Dr Craig | Mr Mostert lodged an appeal against the Disciplinary Committee decision with the Privy Council on 28 April 2022 and he remained on the Register pending the outcome of the appeal. The appeal has now been withdrawn. | |
| 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 the Disciplinary Committee on Proceeding in Absence Decision of the Disciplinary Committee on Facts Decision of the 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 and he remained on the Register pending the outcome of the appeal. The appeal has now been withdrawn. |
2021
| Date | Respondent | Documents | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/12/21 | Samuel, Gary James Cassius |