THE VETERINARY SURGEONS' BOARD OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA and ALEXANDER

The case involved the Veterinary Surgeons' Board of Western Australia and Dr Alexander, a registered veterinary surgeon. The Board commenced disciplinary proceedings against Dr Alexander, alleging unprofessional conduct in relation to the performance of certain veterinary surgeries outside registered premises. The matter was heard in the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The central legal issue before the court was whether Dr Alexander's conduct fell substantially below the standard of professional conduct expected of a veterinary surgeon of good repute and competency.

The court considered the standard of conduct reasonably expected from members of the veterinary profession, particularly those providing mobile services. It examined the relevance of a previous undertaking given by Dr Alexander to the Tribunal, which prohibited him from performing certain surgical procedures outside of registered veterinary hospitals or clinics in the metropolitan area or regional cities. The court also assessed whether Dr Alexander's actions breached the terms of the previous undertaking and whether his conduct fell below the expected standard of professional conduct.

The court found that Dr Alexander's conduct did indeed fall substantially below the standard of professional conduct expected of a veterinary surgeon of good repute and competency. It was held that Dr Alexander had breached the previous undertaking given to the Tribunal, and his actions demonstrated a disregard for the professional standards expected of his profession. The court concluded that the allegations of unprofessional conduct were substantiated and that disciplinary action was warranted.

The court ordered that Dr Alexander be suspended from practising as a veterinary surgeon for a period of six months. Additionally, he was required to attend a professional development course and undergo a period of supervised practice upon resumption of his veterinary activities. The court's decision underscored the importance of maintaining professional standards within the veterinary profession and the consequences of failing to adhere to those standards.