Meanwhile, here's a substantive opinion that involves an appeal from, of all places, the California Veterinary Board. I've seen a number of different appeals from the Medical Board, of course. But this is the first one I recall that revoked a veterinary license. And before reading today's opinion, I would have thought that you'd have to do a lot to get your veterinary license revoked. Apparently not. The petitioner here got his license revoked for "negligence, incompetence, and unprofessional conduct" because he administered the DA2PP and Bordetella vaccines to an eight year old cocker spaniel despite having a fever of 103.4
degrees. He didn't tell the dog's owners about the fever or that administering vaccines to a febrile dog could cause
serious disease and death, and the dog subsequently died. There was apparently one other animal death in the past as well, and based on that, his license got revoked, and the Court of Appeal affirms (as well as reinstates an alternative charge).
Admittedly, I would not be psyched if my dog died to my veterinarian's incompetence, and I would instead be super upset. But until today, I wouldn't have thought that it was feasible that his license might be taken away for the thing.
Apparently, at least in some settings, that's definitely on the table.
Who knew?
