Disciplinary Committee Issues Severe Reprimand to Brighton Vet

Disciplinary Committee Issues Severe Reprimand to Brighton Vet PR Newswire LONDON, November 28, 2012 LONDON, November 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) on Tuesday [27 November 2012] severely reprimanded and warned as to her future conduct a Brighton-based veterinary surgeon who failed to maintain a proper boundary between her professional and personal relationships with a client. The eight charges considered at the seven-day hearing involved Marie-Louise Schlemm's treatment of Ratszy, a 16- year old Jack Russell with chronic renal failure, and her relationship with the dog's owner, Ms B, who suffers from mental illness, during May 2010. At that time, Ms Schlemm was employed by Coastway Veterinary Group in Brighton to work for its out-of-hours veterinary services, Vetcall, to which Ratszy had been referred by the PDSA. The College alleged that Ms Schlemm deliberately misled Ms B as to the condition and prognosis of Ratszy, removed the dog without Ms B's consent, and behaved unprofessionally and inappropriately in her dealings with Ms B. Other allegations were that that she had suggested Ms B tell the PDSA a fabricated story in order that she might see the dog again; made an offer that Ms B and Ratszy could come and stay with her at her home; required Ms B to attend a supermarket car park at 12.30am to collect Ratszy; and took money from Ms B other than for the purposes of legitimate veterinary treatment.