Veterinarians face investigation for breach of ethics

Press, 28 July 1987, Page 2

Veterinarians face investigation for breach of ethics

Two Christchurch veterinarians are being investigated for professional misconduct over alleged breaches of the profession’s code of ethics.

Mr Paul Scott, of the Christchurch South Veterinary Clinic, and Mr John Kelly, of the Milbrook Veterinary Clinic, are alleged to have breached the code by having large display-type advertisements in the Yellow Pages of this year’s telephone directory.

.Both were fined for similar breaches last year.

Mr Scott was also fined in 1985 for distributing advertising pamphlets throughout the Christchurch South area. The New Zealand Veterinary Assciation will hold a preliminary hearing into the charges on Saturday. If it finds there are cases to answer, it will forward formal

charges to the disciplinary body, the Veterinary Surgeons’ Board. Mr Scbtt saw the charges against him as an anomaly in a code of advertising ethics which was updated in January, 1986, to allow some advertising. It still does not allow boxed advertisements in the Yellow Pages, or pamphlets, which he believed were the two most cost-effec-tive for businesses such as his which serve specific localities. Mr Scott believed the code of ethics breached the spirit, if not the letter, of the Restrictive Trade clauses of the Commerce Act. However, he would not attend this Saturday’s hearing, or send a written defence. “We will continue .to notify the public of pur services year after year, and they will continue handing down fines,” he said.

Mr Kelly confirmed that he was facing an investigation, but declined to comment further.

They are the only two veterinarians to have boxed display advertisements in the Christchurch telephone directory, but boxed advertisements also appear in four other directories: Nelson, West Coast, Dunedin and Palmerston North.

Dr Julie Lord, the secretary to the N.Z.V.A. Council, would not,discuss the charges against Messrs Scott and Kelly, or disclose whether similar charges had been, or would be, laid against any of the others.

She said, however, that the 1982 Christchurch telephone directory had contained such “a jumble” of boxed advertise.ments in the Yellow Pages section, that it became difficult to find the name of any particular veterinary surgeon.