RCVS responds to Sunday Times story on John Hendrie Smith
Mr Smith, based in Ayrshire, faced eight charges relating to the euthanasia of a German shepherd.
The RCVS has issued a statement on its requirements for CPD and revalidation, after the Sunday Times ran an article on veterinary surgeon John Hendrie Smith, who was recently struck off the register.
Mr Smith, based in Ayrshire, faced eight charges relating to the euthanasia of a German shepherd called Bouncer during a home visit in January last year.
Charges included failing to attend with a muzzle and sedative; failing to explain that the euthanasia would involve an injection directly into the heart, which is not an accepted means of euthanasia; communication failures; providing inadequate veterinary care and causing unnecessary suffering.
Chair of the disciplinary committee, Chitra Karve, said the intracardiac injection without prior sedation or anaesthesia caused “appalling pain and suffering to Bouncer, as evidenced by his screaming, and was wholly unnecessary”.
Mr Smith had, in the past, also euthanised over 200 dogs using this method.
Responding, the RCVS explained that vets are required to carry out a minimum of 105 hours of CPD over a rolling three year period and to practise within their area of competence.
There is currently no regular revalidation requirement for vets or nurses, but annual audits of CPD are carried out and vets who fail to confirm they have met the requirement are asked to supply their records.
Failures to meet CPD requirements are taken into account by the disciplinary committee when deciding what sanctions to impose in other cases.
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
