The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has dismissed a case against a Southampton veterinary surgeon after finding him not guilty of serious professional misconduct, saying at all times that he acted in the best interests of a dog under his care.
At the start of the five-day hearing, the charges against Edward Gillams MRCVS were that, whilst in practice at Vets Now in Southampton in 2011, he discharged a dog that he knew or ought to have known was in no fit state to be discharged, and, at the same time, failed to provide adequate advice and information to the dog's owners, particularly with regard to an alternative plan to discharge and treatment options.
The dog, an Italian Spinone called Zola, had first been taken to the Vets4Pets veterinary clinic in Southampton at 4.30pm on 2 November 2011, where gastric torsion was diagnosed. During a subsequent gastrotomy, 3kg of sausages and plastic wrappings were removed. Zola was discharged three days later, with a guarded prognosis from the operating veterinary surgeon. Zola's condition deteriorated that same evening, so his owners called the Vets4Pets practice and were referred to their out-of-hours provider, Vets Now, where Mr Gillams was on duty. On admitting Zola, the only information available to Mr Gillams was what the dog's owners were able to tell him.
The Committee heard differing witness accounts from the dog's owners and from Mr Gillams regarding what tests and examinations were to be performed, and what advice and options were suggested. Ultimately, Zola was hospitalised overnight (despite some reluctance for this from one of his owners), given pain relief and antibiotics and placed on a drip; he was then to be collected by his owners first thing for transfer back to Vets4Pets. The next morning, Zola was described as 'sternally recumbent but responsive', holding his head up but not moving and not making any attempt to get up. Mr Gillams carried Zola to his owner's car for transport back to the Vets4Pets practice. He considered that he had discharged his duty to provide advice, as this was given the night before and in the circumstances prevailing in the morning there was no obligation to repeat this. Zola died on the journey between the two practices.
Before reaching a decision, the Committee considered, in detail, the expert evidence of witnesses for both the College and Mr Gillams, which provided some conflicting views on Mr Gillams' actions. It also referred to the RCVS guidance available to Mr Gillams at the time through the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct 2010.
The Committee noted that both experts agreed that Mr Gillams could not have known Zola was about to die when he discharged him and that it was a difficult decision for Mr Gillams to make, but expressed differing views about the fitness of the dog to be discharged and whether it was in its best interests to be discharged. The Committee rejected the contention that Mr Gillams ought to have known that Zola was not fit to be discharged, and instead considered appropriate his decision to discharge him into the care of his original veterinary surgeon. It felt that continuity of care would actually be better maintained in this manner, rather than a third veterinary surgeon taking over the case.
Regarding provision of adequate advice, the Committee accepted Mr Gillams' evidence that he was frustrated that the owners refused him permission to undertake the diagnostic work necessary to treat Zola effectively, and that he had no other clinical information to work with.
Chairing and speaking on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee, its Vice-Chairman, Ms Judith Webb, said: "The Committee expresses its sincere condolences to [the owners] for the loss of their much loved family pet Zola and recognises that this loss caused the family great distress."
Ms Webb added: "The Committee accepts that [Mr Gillams] discharged his obligations to Zola and to [his owners] in a manner wholly consistent with the standards of a competent veterinary surgeon in difficult circumstances. He leaves with no stain on his character or professional ability."
The full detail of the Committee's decision is available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vets.
If the owners didn't give permission for Mr Gillams to carry out diagnostic tests, then they have to bear SOME responsibility. At the same time, I can not reconcile this judgement with the requirement in the G to PC for the Veterinary surgeon to be responsible for transport between practices. This was one of my reasons for leaving Vets Now
Wynne
Having only read this article, it does sounds like the owner's frustration was dicharged on the vet. How can you accused someone if you didn't give him the chance to properly 'know' about the case? (No previous history rather than owners interpretation and no option to perform diagnostics). Shouldn't even needed to go to DC IMO...
Just read the article and I have actually to agree with Francisco. Very easily and too much quickly vets get accused and undergo stressful disciplinary. Owners are constantly molly cuddled, constantly moaning at the price of vey services and never bear responsibility for their own decisions. Why a vet with no clinical information and no possibility to perform any further test, that am sure has had to argue for an hour before been granted permission to admit the dog and administer minimum care(fluids abs and pain relief) to try to make the dog comfy has to be treated this way???
With hind-sight I'm sure Mr. G. regretted discharging the dog in the morning but it sounds like at all times he had the best interests of the dog at heart and very harsh that this went as far as DC. Watch your back folks!
Just to add...the dog was discharged 3 days later with a guarded prognosis!?!?! Why was he discharged in first instance despite clearly been unwell? (perhaps the owner started kicking up a fuss about vet bill for gdv sx and intensive care hosp for 3days?) Where the dog had been hospitalised during them 3 days? (clearly not at Vets now otherwise there would be arecord on thr computer...again too unwell to be transported or money saving keeping the dog at the practice rather than use ooh provider) why when the owner contacted the practice only to be referred straight to ooh service the dog's hx hasn't been faxed through? (As far as I know when vey refers to ooh there's a vet to vet or nurse handover case to avoid this. Has actually the owner phoned and spoke to regular vet or just turned up at ooh door cause regular vet was closed??? If I have a critical case during the day I do fax hx to ooh just in case owners turn up). Too easy try to blame ooh vet and maybe try to make some money out of it, still think it should have not go to DC.