At least four veterinarians and twelve veterinary assistants who work at Brabant veterinary clinics are not in the Veterinary Characterist. The veterinarians performed operations, presented medicines and gave medical advice. That is punishable without registration in the Veterinary Scientist register.
This is according to research by Omroep Brabant and the NOS. The Public Prosecution Service calls the findings of the investigation ‘shocking’ and calls for reporting. Doctors who are not registered cannot be dragged before the disciplinary court and are not prosecuted. Not even if they are registered afterwards. Read here the story of Rian Keijzers who lost her dog Bodhi.
Supervisor The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) responds: “If registration is left, that is incomprehensible, unacceptable and not good. It is the legal duty for veterinarians and paraveterinires to register in the Veterinary Characterist. That is not for nothing. It shows that they are competent and qualified, or rowly execute, “according to the regulator.
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Without registration
The problem is mainly at an animal hospital in Waalwijk. Four veterinarians who work here are not in the register. Photos on social media show that these veterinarians perform operations, among other things. For example, medicines are also prescribed. With a number of other, smaller veterinary clinics in Brabant, twelve so -called paraveterinary assistants are at work without the correct registration.
Of the more than one hundred paraveterinary veterinary assistants who come to our research nationally, an application to register was rejected from nine. This is possible, for example, because they do not have the right diplomas to work as a veterinary medicine. Sixteen paraveterinary veterinarian assistants and one veterinarian started an application, but never sent the correct pieces. Of the rest, the animal medicine register register could not find an application at all.
Research
For the study, Omroep Brabant and the NOS watched thousands of veterinarians and paraveterinary veterinary assistants throughout the Netherlands who are on the websites of the three largest chains IVC Evidensia, Anicura and Vet partners. These are three chains that have established themselves in the Netherlands in recent years. IVC Evidensia in particular was repeatedly recently in the news Due to the high prices of the treatments and an outflow of staff.
For the investigation we wanted to check to what extent the three chains adhere to Dutch laws and regulations. We looked at whether those names are in the public animal medicine register and explained the veterinary medicines we could not find to the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. After checking by the ministry and reaction of the three chains, at least 4 veterinarians and more than one hundred paraveterinary veterinary assistants were left in the register. Outside of Brabant, no veterinarians were found who are missing in the register.
Completely checking the register is impossible. In a large part of the clinics of IVC Evidensia in particular, employees were not or only with their first name on the website. Moreover, the chains have around a quarter of the veterinary practices in the Netherlands. The other clinics in the Netherlands are not included in this study.
Smaller practices
“This problem plays a role in the independent, smaller practices,” says Marleen Langen, chairman of Vedias, a interest group for paraveterinires. According to her, several smaller practices indicated a few years ago that they do not take any action on this, because “the owner and/or the assistant would almost retire, the costs of the training were too high compared to what it yields and because of the low risk that things go wrong.”
According to Langen, the large chains make improvement. “Thanks to them, this problem has been mapped and a solution has been found, which all practices could use,” says Langen.
‘Shocking’
The functional public prosecutor’s office says in a response: “Provided that we do not have access to the entire investigation, the findings seem shocking. The legislator gives an obligation to a profession to register and if that does not happen on a larger scale, that can have serious consequences for people and animals,” said the OM.
If a veterinarian is not registered but still performs acts that only veterinarians are allowed to do, then the person risks a prison sentence for a year or a fine of 25,000 euros. Those penalties have not been imposed once in recent years.
The Public Prosecution Service also says: “If there is unauthorized action, or there is a suspicion thereof, this can be reported immediately to the NVWA supervisor or report to the police. On the basis of that, the OM may decide for criminal prosecution.”
NVWA and Professional Association are shocked
The NVWA says that “everyone should be able to trust that veterinarians and paraveterinary veterinarian assistants who have registered in clinics or hospitals have registered. There may be no doubt about that,” says the regulator. For the NVWA it is guessing why not registering. “It may be that there is a mistake, carelessness or administrative shortcoming. That is of course not good and not an excuse, but can be a plausible explanation. Which, incidentally, must be restored immediately.”
“When there is the preconceived and deliberate failure to registration, we consider that if the deliberate breaking of the law,” adds the NVWA. “That is of course unacceptable. Where we conclude that, we perform,” said the NVWA.
The regulator will talk to the chains and industry associations. “That is important to be able to oversee the extent of this and any follow -up actions. We will look further afterwards. The NVWA will occur in the event of a shortcomings found and encourage those involved that the registration will be in order.”
Response IVC Evidensia
IVC Evidensia says in a response: “We have informed the relevant authorities and will work closely with them to handle this appropriately in accordance with their guidelines.
It is important to emphasize that the employees involved are very experienced and fully authorized professionals with the right qualifications for registration, and that there has never been any danger to animals, “said IVC Evidensia.
Read more about the research and reactions of the three chains investigated in this extensive accountability.
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