Two-month suspension for vet was unduly severe after operation on dog with inadequate consent

High Court, on appeal from a decision of the Veterinary Council of Ireland, reduces the suspension of a veterinarian from two months to one month, on the grounds that: (a) the decision to operate on a different leg to that consented to by the owner amounted to misconduct, and this had been admitted; but (b) there had been no harm to the animal and the veterinarian had a previously unblemished record; and (c) given the abundance of mitigating factors, the initial sanction had been unduly severe.