Disciplinary Actions in 2022
A public record request can be done by completing the online request form.
What is a Consent Order?
An order involving a type of disciplinary action may be made to the board by the investigating board member with the consent of the person. To be accepted, a consent order requires formal consent of a majority of the quorum of the board. Such quorum does not include the investigating board member. It is not the result of the board’s deliberation; it is the board’s acceptance of an agreement reached between the board and the person. A proposed consent order may be rejected by the board in which event a formal hearing will occur. The consent order, if accepted by the board, is issued by the board to carry out the parties’ agreement. (Rule §1411 of the LA Veterinary Practice Act)
Case 19-0405, Petition for Consent Order Modification (Meeting Date – October 6, 2022)
A licensee who is practicing under the terms of a Consent Order petitioned the Board to be relieved of the obligation of having to work under the supervision of a Board approved veterinarian after having faithfully complied with the other terms of the Consent Order, including successfully passing random drug screening for a number of years and after successfully obtaining a revoked DEA registration and license with the Board of Pharmacy. After hearing testimony as to the exigent circumstances involved and noting the to-date full compliance with all restrictions and terms of the Consent Order and full and complete participation in the Board’s peer assistance program for impaired veterinarians, the Board fully discussed the merits and demerits of the request. The request was granted and will be memorialized by an amended Consent Order.
Case 22-0411, Consent Order (Meeting Date – October 6, 2022)
A Consent Order was agreed upon by and between a licensee and the investigating Board member concerning the merits of a complaint filed. The gist of the complaint was that the licensee extracted 11 canine teeth from a patient whose owner did not give explicit consent, nor was consent given via the mandatory written Anesthesia Consent Form contents authorizing the veterinarian, who had client authority only to administer teeth cleaning/scaling, to provide those services the veterinarian in her judgment thought necessary during the procedure. The extractions were by a technician. The owners had not authorized the administration of pain medication because they expected routine cleaning to be done only, resulting in potential unnecessary potential patient pain. The failure to use the mandatory form resulted in a violation, as did the utilization of a RVT to extract teeth (dental operation). The Board was called upon to approve the Consent Order, fining the veterinarian $250, ordering restitution of the costs of investigation ($1250) and ordering the licensee to complete additional CE on record keeping through a course approved by the investigating Board member.
Case 18-1220, Consent Order (Meeting Date – June 2, 2022)
A licensee against whom a complaint was filed for alleged criminal conduct entered nolo contendere pleas in a state district court to charges of aggravated cruelty to an animal, illegal discharge of a firearm near a school, illegal possession of a legend drug and illegal possession of a schedule drug (IV). A consent order was approved by the Board requiring the payment of a fine, partial reimbursement for the costs of the investigation into the allegations of the complaint, additional CE of 5 hours in the field of veterinary ethics, and board approved community service of 25 hours.