INVESTIGATIONS & RESOLUTIONS
DISCIPLINE HEARINGS
NEW HEARING SUMMARIES POSTED
The outcomes of discipline hearings are
public information and are intended to
provide a greater understanding of the
veterinary profession’s accountability to
the public.
Summaries are posted on the College
website (www.cvo.org/Discipline-Orders)
and findings are noted on the Public
Register. Disciplinary decisions are
available by contacting the College. The
following discipline summaries were
recently posted:
Dr. Narottam Patel
Dr. Devendrakumar Patel
As a result of an uncontested
professional misconduct hearing on
January 16, 2020, the members were
each suspended for two months and
required to complete an assessment,
educational learning modules, and a
mentorship on dentistry.
The College investigation found the
members failed to maintain the standard
of practice of the profession in delivering
dental care to cats. The members are
each required to pay costs to the College
of $2,500.
Dr. James Holmes
As a result of an uncontested
professional misconduct hearing on
January 16, 2020, the member was
suspended for two months and required
to complete an assessment, review of the
medical records learning modules, and
a mentorship regarding the issues that
arose in the case.
The College investigation found
the member failed to maintain the
standard of practice of the profession
in maintaining medical records and
communication with a client.
Correction: Page 7 of the Winter 2019
issue of College Connection contained
an error. Under the summaries from
discipline hearings, the note concerning
Dr. Kendra Long’s hearing incorrectly
referred to the Cat Hospital of Burlington.
This should have said the Cat Hospital of
Brampton. The Cat Hospital of Burlington
has met all accreditation requirements
and has a current Certificate of
Accreditation. The College regrets the
error.
Read a full summary on these
cases at:
www.cvo.org/Discipline-Orders
REMEDIATION
PART OF JUST
CULTURE
APPROACH
Early evaluations suggest remedial
undertakings, ordered through the
complaints and discipline processes,
are successful in addressing
practice deficiencies.
The College has regularly engaged
remedial undertakings to educate
veterinarians whose practice has been
identified as deficient in specific areas.
As part of the College’s commitment to
ensure effectiveness in its mandate of
public protection, the new evaluation
process includes an assessment which is
followed by education and then a followup
assessment.
Thirteen assessments have now been
completed and 11 of those were deemed
to be successful. The veterinarians
involved demonstrated an improved
understanding of the issues and applied
changes to their practice to correct
the deficiencies. When an assessment
is deemed unsuccessful, the case is
returned to the Executive Committee
for further action to address ongoing
concerns.
The College is committed to public
protection and the remedial undertakings
are an example of the College’s
willingness to assist veterinarians to
ensure practice standards are achieved.
WHAT’S NEW AT CVO.ORG
COLLEGE WEBSITE CONTAINS HELPFUL RESOURCES
The College website provides onestop
access to helpful information
for veterinarians, the public and
applicants.
Speaking Frankly: The College
established two advisory panels in
2018. These panels each meet three
times a year and provide advice and
input to Council from the veterinary and
the public perspective. The veterinary
practice advisory panel met in May and
discussed the sale of non-drug veterinary
products, the modernization of the
Veterinarians Act, and trends impacting
the profession. For more information,
visit cvo.org/speakingfrankly.
Learning Modules: The College
offers online learning modules to
assist veterinarians in understanding
expectations. Topics presented include
medical records, informed client consent,
and communications. A full listing of
topics and access to the modules is
found at cvo.org/learning-modules.
Instilling public confidence in veterinary regulation cvo.org 7