A veterinarian who was eliminated from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) register for dishonesty in insurance coverage claims for her own horse has actually been brought back.
The RCVS disciplinary committee was “impressed” by Nicola Burrows, and the proof provided and is “satisfied that she will ensure the highest standards of probity and honesty in the future”.
H&H reported in May 2021 that Dr Burrows had actually been condemned of disgraceful conduct in an expert regard, for producing an unreliable medical history for her own horse and after that dishonestly trying to make an insurance coverage claim for the treatment of her horse.
Her adjourned application for repair was heard by the RCVS committee on 9-10 March.
“In her restoration application, Dr Burrows included continuing professional development (CPD) certificates covering the courses she had completed during the period since her removal from the register,” an RCVS spokesperson said. “Also included were letters/informal witness statements from the veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses she had worked with since her removal from the register and who expressed a willingness to employ her again were the committee to permit her name to be restored to the register, as well as character references and reflection statements.”
The committee thought about whether Dr Burrows had “accepted the findings of the committee at the original inquiry hearing, the seriousness of those findings, whether she had demonstrated insight into her past conduct, and the protection of the public and the public interest”.
As well as the files supplied to the committee, Dr Burrows made an in-depth opening declaration to support her application.
The committee’s report of this states: “Removal from the register had actually been the most distressing time of her life. However she now understands, with established insight, that as unpleasant as it was at the time she just had herself to blame for her actions. She comprehends and accepts that the charge required to be extreme provided the major breach of trust to the general public, to the veterinary occupation and the insurance coverage market that was a direct repercussion of her unethical actions.
“She had actually taken a substantial quantity of time, and needed help, to genuinely accept and comprehend all of the committee’s findings. She can completely value and totally comprehend how and why the committee pertained to their choice and identifies that her conduct, dishonesty and extended actions were far eliminated from what is anticipated of a veterinary cosmetic surgeon. She now comprehends that elimination from the register was the only proper sanction.
“These statements by her were not easy for her to sayand she is not proud of her previous actions. Instead, she is deeply remorseful and embarrassed. Her level of deception and dishonesty was and is, uncharacteristic and it is hard to believe that she became that person.”
The report mentions that Dr Burrows said she “deeply regrets” her conduct, and had actually invested a “considerable amount of time identifying, with insight, how she could start to restore that essential professional trust and integrity”.
After her elimination from the register, Dr Burrows worked as a receptionist in a Vets4Pets practice, throughout which she needed to handle the general public and their insurance coverage.
“She stated that as a result of her involvement over the past 18 months in processing insurance claims, she acknowledges the ‘delicate’ relationship between veterinary surgeons, clients and insurers,” the RCVS spokesperson said. “Additionally, working as a receptionist, had allowed her to recognise the need for contemporaneous and clear clinical notes. She also highlighted her CPD, which was relevant to insurance, as well as the fact she’d undertaken a professional ethics course to assist her rehabilitation, reflection, and insight.”
The committee considered witness declarations from other staff at the Vets4Pets branch, who all “gave positive reflections on Dr Burrows’ character and assured the committee that they would provide the correct level of support to allow her to return to work safely and that they would have all the necessary safeguarding measures in place to ensure that the public’s and the profession’s interest is always at the forefront”.
Disciplinary committee chair Judith Way said the committee was impressed by the truth “busy professionals chose to give up their time to provide witness statements and give evidence in support of Dr Burrows’ application”.
“All witnesses were clearly supportive of Dr Burrows’ request for restoration to the register,” she said.
“The committee discovered Dr Burrows to reveal regret and she does now accept the findings of dishonesty that were made versus her in the initial query hearing and mentioned that her conduct was unethical. In the committee’s view, the proof provided by Dr Burrows on affirmation was extremely credible and she now accepts her dishonesty together with the gravity of her dishonesty.
“The committee likewise formed the view that the actions she has actually required to resolve her dishonesty serve to validate that she is enthusiastic about the possibility that she be permitted to go back to practice. The committee was impressed by Dr Burrows and the proof provided and is now pleased that she will make sure the greatest requirements of probity and sincerity in the future.
“Having taken all evidence into account, the committee is satisfied that the future welfare of animals under Dr Burrows’ responsibility will be properly protected, and that her future dealings with insurers will be honest in all respects and that the interests of the public will be met.”
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Credit: Future
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