A stressed vet who botched an operation on a guine

A stressed vet who botched an operation on a guinea pig which had to be put down has been given a chance after final judgement was postponed for two years.

Michael Roach, 62, who described his mental condition as being like walking along the edge of a precipice, tried to castrate cuddly pet Mork, but the animal’s intestine was strangled as a result.

Late last night (wed) the vet, from Bristol, was found guilty of disgraceful conduct by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons but chairman Mr Jerry Luckes postponed judgement, subject to a series of conditions.

Mr Roach was told that if he wants to continue in practice he must undertake ‘appropriate medical treatment.

‘

He landed himself in hot water over the bungle at his Veterinary Vaccination Clinic in Fishponds, Bristol, in March last year.

The diciplinary hearing at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) was told how animal-lover Paul Caradine took Mork the guinea pig to the practice in Straits Parade for the routine castration.

But when he collected his pet just hours later, it was allegedly ‘lifeless and covered in blood’.

Mr Roach handed the rodent over, and told Mr Caradine: ‘Sorry he is in such a state.

‘

When the owner got Mork back to his home in Vassall Road, Fishponds, he realised something was seriously wrong.

David Bradly, for the RCVS, told the hearing: ‘Once at home, Mork failed to recover and when he was moved he made a noise which the family had not heard before, and interpreted as a squeal of pain.

‘

Mr Caradine took the guinea pig to the Avenue Veterinary Centre at nearby Pendennis Avenue, Staple Hill, where staff inspected him.

Mr Bradly added: ‘Mork was very pale, open-mouthed, and cold to touch.

The examination took five minutes and at the end of it Mork was gasping.

‘After a discussion, a decision was made that Mork should be put down and it was carried out that evening.

‘

Mr Roach was found guilty of one charge of disgraceful conduct, which included failing to give Mr Caradine advice on the risks of the surgery, and failing to provide adequate post-operative care.

But he was cleared of three sub-charges relating to the guinea pig after telling of a dirty tricks campaign by his rivals.

He was also found not guilty of four charges of disgraceful conduct after charging pnds stlg 25 for a spaying op on a cat which he didn’t perform.

Mum-of-one Suzanne Corney took her prize-winning puss Sapphire to the Veterinary Vaccination Clinic to be neutered, but discovered a month later that she was still fertile.

Mrs Corne, of Alexandra Gardens, Staple Hill, then took the five-month-old Birman moggy to the Avenue clinic, where staff confirmed her suspicions.

Vet Louise Stansfield later performed the surgery.

The committee accepted that Mr Roach, who admitted the operation to Sapphire was not carried out, was suffering from severe depression at the time which affected his judgement.

Mr Roach had said the guinea pig allegations were made amidst a row between him and other Bristol vets.

Some animal surgeons in the area bore ‘extreme hostility’ towards the Mr Roach for undercutting their fees shortly after he opened his clinic in February last year.

One of those upset by the move carried out the post mortem on Mork the guinea pig claiming that the operation was inadequate.

John Sterry, whose surgery is adjacent to Mr Roach’s, had been the vet’s line manager at the Meat Licencing Service where they had been between 1997 and 1998.

He told the hearing he discovered that the guinea pig’s intestine had been strangled during the operation.

But he admitted he had ‘legitimate concerns’ that Mr Roach was offering a cheaper service than other vets in the area.

He added: ‘I am aware there was hostility towards what Mr Roach had attempted to do.

‘I didn’t liked his practice being set up adjacent to mine, and operating in the way it does.

‘

Mr Sterry admitted attending a meeting with other practitioners to discuss what to do about Mr Roach.

And he was alleged to have phoned the surgeon after carrying out the post mortem, and raged: ‘The activities of your clinic stink.

‘

Giving evidence Mr Roach said he had been under pressure from his bank and other vets in the area, who had become ‘vindictive’ towards him.

Former Bristol University lecturer Mr Roach, whose wife died in 1981, said it had cost him pnds stlg 110,000 to set up a practice, much of which had been borrowed from the bank.

But he claimed that one local vet complained to the RCVS about a newspaper advert he had placed.

And another said his prices would make her practice go under.

Mr Roach also claimed that people had barged into a private room at his surgery to spy on his equipment, and some members of the public tried to induce him to sell prescription-only drugs.

The vet, who said his practice ‘haemorrhaged’ money, told the hearing: ‘I knew that if I offered what I thought was an affordable vaccination practice, I would be open to criticisms that my service was not that good.

‘The pressure was too much.

It devastated my mind.

Here were all the local vets, it seemed to me, turning against me.

‘

But Mr Roach accepted he made a mess of spaying Sapphire, telling the committee: ‘I’m quite sure I removed something.

But what it was I do not know.

‘I’m telling the committee I thought I had removed the uterus.

I’m quite sure I removed something.

There aren’t really any that would have resembled the uterus.

‘

Quizzed over whether he might have mistaken the uterus for another organ he replied: ‘I could have removed the urethra, something I occasionally fall into the trap of doing.

‘

Roach, of Fabian Grove, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, described his mental condition as being like walking along the edge of a precipice.

‘But one puff of wind and you’re over.

‘

He added: ‘I was feeling physically fit but my mind was having problems.

‘

And Chairman Mr Luckes said: ‘The Committee has been concerned about Mr Roach’s medical condition and the service he will provide to the public.

‘The committee has decided that any final judgement should be postponed for two years.

‘

Mr Roach was told to seek medical treatment and undertake 15 hours of ‘clinical continuing professional development.

‘

Mr Luckes said he can only carry out certain surgical procedures on his own but in all other circumstances he must be accompanied by a veterinary nurse on the RCVS list or a veterinary surgeon.

Finally the chairman said reports on Mr Roach’s progress and his ‘clinical case load’ should be reported to the disciplinary committee quarterly.

ends