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. Nabeel Al-Azawi
As a result of an uncontested
professional misconduct hearing on
October 18, 2019, the member was
suspended for one month and required
to complete an assessment, a course,
and a mentorship on pain management.
The College investigation found the
member failed to maintain the standard
of practice of the profession in that
he prescribed and/or dispensed an
excessive amount of Meloxicam and also
Diazepam and failed to obtain the client’s
consent to treatment in respect of the
Meloxicam prescribed. The member is
required to pay costs to the College of
$3,000.
Dr. Kendra Long
As a result of a hearing conducted by a
panel of the Accreditation Committee,
the Certificates of Accreditation for the
Cat Hospital of Brampton and the Dog
Hospital of Brampton were suspended.
The inspection of the hospitals revealed
significant deficiencies and the hospitals
failed to meet relevant accreditation
requirements.
The certificates of accreditation
are suspended until the hospitals
successfully complete an inspection.
Following that, the hospitals will be
subject to monthly inspections for 11
months. The member will also complete
a peer review of medical records and
mentoring sessions. As well, the member
is required to retain a practice consultant
to ensure compliance with practice
standards.
Read a full summary on these
cases at:
www.cvo.org/Discipline-Orders
SURVEY FINDS NOT ALL VETERINARIANS SEE
THEMSELVES AS PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTITIONERS
In 2019, the College surveyed companion
animal and equine veterinarians on
topics related to One Health. The goal
of the survey was to help us understand
how this group of veterinarians views
themselves as public health practitioners,
how they communicate with clients about
public health topics, and what public
health issues they value.
Approximately 250 veterinarians
completed the survey. Three quarters of
the respondents identified themselves as
public health practitioners. However, the
responses to various scenarios related to
client communications indicated a higher
level of identification with a One Health
role. More than 91% of respondents
indicated they have conversations with
clients about topics such as raw food
diets for pets, parasites, vaccinations,
rabies, toxoplasma, overseas pet
adoptions and flea/tick/heartworm
prevention.
Interestingly, just under 60 percent of
veterinarians reported a familiarity with
the term One Health. Those veterinarians
indicated a solid understanding of One
Health as representing the connection
between the health of people, animals
and the ecosystem.
Another aspect of the survey looked
at antimicrobial stewardship and
found only 35 percent of veterinarians
who completed the survey have an
antimicrobial stewardship program in
place.
Antimicrobial stewardship can
incorporate a multi-modal approach
that includes drug prescription and use,
communication and education, and
disease prevention. The fall 2019 College
Connection provides an overview of
antimicrobial stewardship and veterinary
medicine.
The College supports veterinary initiatives
which promote public health and
enable veterinarians to embrace their
role as public health practitioners. The
College will be sharing articles in College
Connection to assist veterinarians in
understanding their role as public health
practitioners in Ontario.
Instilling public confidence in veterinary regulation
cvo.org
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