LONDON, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --     The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
this week [5 September 2007] dismissed a case against a north London
veterinary surgeon charged with failing in his obligations to gain informed
consent from a client.

During a three-day hearing, Reza D'Ehghani MRCVS, of the North London
Veterinary Clinic in Golders Green, was accused of failing to discuss with
his client, Stewart Bradley, a range of reasonable treatment options, likely
fees and total cost of the various procedures.

The Committee heard that when Mr Bradley's mongrel bitch, Affra, was
taken ill in February 2006, he spoke on the telephone to Mr D'Ehghani, who
was providing out-of-hours emergency cover for Mr Bradley's usual practice.
It was agreed that Affra should be brought to the Golders Green surgery for
treatment. However, the details of subsequent events described to the
Committee differed markedly.

Mr Bradley stated adamantly that Mr D'Ehghani was the only veterinary
surgeon present, and after giving Affra a cursory examination, provisionally
diagnosed gastric dilation. He said Mr D'Ehghani told him the condition was
serious enough to warrant admitting Affra and that surgery might be
necessary; he then signed a blank consent form and left. Affra later
underwent a successful operation to remove her stomach contents.

Mr Bradley told the Committee that at no time was he advised as to the
range of treatments available or the likely cost of any surgery, and felt
that Mr D'Ehghani's subsequent bill for GBP4,667 was unreasonable. After he
instructed his insurance company not to pay the GBP3,000 for which he was
covered, the insurers subsequently filed a complaint against Mr D'Ehghani
with the RCVS.

According to Mr D'Ehghani, however, he had explained to Mr Bradley the
cost of the initial out-of-hours consultation over the telephone, he had been
accompanied to the surgery by his assistant, Syd Azimi MRCVS, and it had been
Mr Azimi who carried out the consultation and the subsequent surgery. Mr
D'Ehghani further stated that it was Mr Azimi who explained treatment and
cost options to Mr Bradley, twice offering him a printed estimate, and that
Mr Bradley then signed a consent form detailing approximate costs of GBP1,500
and 'surgery if needed'.

Giving evidence, Mr Azimi fully supported Mr D'Ehghani's version of
events. The Committee also saw copies of clinical records, handwritten by
both veterinary surgeons, detailing the course of treatment provided; the
original documents and consent form had been scanned into the practice
computer but were no longer available.

Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Mrs Alison Bruce, said: "We have
considered carefully the evidence that has been adduced by both parties and
are not satisfied that it has been proved to the requisite standard [see note
4 below] that Mr D'Ehghani was the sole treating veterinary surgeon on the
night in question. We recognise that Mr Bradley was under considerable stress
at the time due to his dog being seriously unwell and have concluded that,
whilst he was not being untruthful in his evidence, he may have been mistaken
in his recollection of events. The charge is dismissed."

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1.The RCVS is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the UK and
deals with issues of professional misconduct, maintaining the register of
veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK and assuring standards of
veterinary education.

2.RCVS disciplinary powers are exercised through the Preliminary
Investigation and Disciplinary Committees, established in accordance with
Schedule 2 to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (the 1966 Act). The RCVS has
authority to deal with three types of case:

a)Fraudulent registration

b)Criminal convictions

c)Allegations of disgraceful professional conduct

3.The Disciplinary Committee is a constituted judicial tribunal under the
1966 Act and follows rules of evidence similar to those used in a court of
law.

4.The burden of proving an allegation falls upon the RCVS, and the RCVS
must prove to the standard that the Committee is sure.

5.Further information, including the charges against Mr D'Ehghani and the
Disciplinary Committee's findings, can be found via RCVSonline at
http://www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary