Vet’s licence revoked
Cape Breton veterinarian who mistakenly euthanized dog loses licence, must sell practice
MEAT COVE, N.S. — A veterinarian who mistakenly euthanized a dog last year has been forced to surrender his licence and sell his animal clinic.
Dr. Frank Richardson, registrar of the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association (NSVMA), said Dr. Sietse VanZwol, owner of Highland Animal Hospital in Port Hawkesbury, N.S., will no longer have a licence to practise veterinary medicine after 5 p.m. on July 9.
“He’s no longer allowed to practise anywhere,” Richardson said. “Not just Nova Scotia but anywhere.”
Richardson said they don’t believe VanZwol intends to try to get a licence elsewhere but if he does he will notify the licencing body of the jurisdiction in question and make them aware of this complaint.
As well, Richardson said according to their legislation, because VanZwol is not a licensed veterinarian anymore, he has one year from July 9 to sell his practice.
Highland Animal Hospital also has offices in Guysborough, Inverness, Chéticamp and Ingonish.
“He has to sell it,” Richardson said. “Because of not being a veterinarian anymore, he cannot stay as an owner. I’m under the understanding the process is already underway.”
Meanwhile, after waiting almost an entire griefstricken year for the decision, Arlene Fougere of Meat Cove was extremely emotional while relaying she finally got justice for her beloved eightyear-old husky Cooper.
Fougere said her lawyer sent her a copy of the decision and admits it was difficult to open it at first.
“When I got to the final decision I just started bawling,” she said. “I couldn’t even read anymore at one point. I had to keep wiping away my tears to keep reading. I kept saying, ‘OMG Cooper won. He’s going to save other animals. Cooper fought for justice for a whole year not just for himself but for other animals and he won, he did it'.”
COOPER
On Aug. 4, 2020, Fougere took Cooper to a walk-in clinic held in Ingonish by the Highland Animal Hospital in Port Hawkesbury to have the dog’s sore leg checked.
In an earlier story in the Post, Fougere said her dog was very healthy and that she had spoken to the veterinary assistant on several occasions regarding her dog’s leg.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time, Dr. Sietse Vanzwol came out to the parking lot. Seeing the doctor carrying a rubber band, Fougere assumed he was going to draw blood for testing.
Without carrying a chart or saying a word, the veterinarian gave her dog a needle euthanizing him. Fougere was extremely distraught.
“I screamed, 'You killed my dog',” she said.
Fougere was so distraught, RCMP responded to the scene to assist.
The veterinarian told her there were three dogs there to be put down and he made a mistake.
Fougere filed a complaint with the provincial veterinarian authority.
THE DECISION
In the decision by the NSVMA, the report states, "There is no question that Dr. VanZwol mistakenly euthanized Cooper."
The lengthy decision included VanZwol is, "Not to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine, in any form, which includes not only the clinical practices and procedures usually performed by a veterinarian but also the related promotion of health and prevention of illness of animals that falls within the meaning of this term.”
Richardson said it did take time for the panel to reach a decision as it was a serious allegation against a member. He said their mandate is what’s in the public’s best interest. The panel also did an extensive audit of VanZwol’s medical records, which added to the time but also helped in making the final decision.
Richardson said even in the weeks leading up to this decision, Dr. VanZwol has only been allowed to practise under certain restrictions, including not being permitted to do euthanasia and only permitted to work under the direct supervision of two veterinarians.
“Every case he sees has been scrutinized by two veterinarians to see that he is practising in accordance to standards,” he said. “That supervision will end Friday at 5 p.m. He’s done.”
In asking about deficiencies uncovered during the audit and listed in the decision of the panel, Richardson said medical records are an integral part of any medical practice and they take record keeping very seriously.
He said it disappoints him that the member did not have complete medical records as he should have had on his cases.
Calls to Dr. Sietse VanZwol were not returned Wednesday.