Disciplinary Committee Refuses Register Restoration Application

By Royal College Of Veterinary Surgeons, PRNE
Sunday, September 26, 2010

LONDON, September 27, 2010 - The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
last week [23 September 2010] refused an application for restoration to the
RCVS Register by Dr Janos Nemeth, who had previously been found to have
fraudulently registered with the RCVS and struck off.

At the original hearing, in February 2009, Dr Nemeth - the holder of a
veterinary science degree from the Szent István University in Budapest, who
had practised in the Wokingham area of Berkshire - was found to have
dishonestly entered his name in the RCVS Register using a forged document (a
Certificate of Membership and Good Professional Behaviour from the Hungarian
Veterinary Chamber). The Disciplinary Committee at that time found the
evidence that the document was a forgery to be "overwhelming" and concluded
that Dr Nemeth had been lying to them about his knowledge of the forgery. It
directed that his name should be removed from the Register.

Dr Nemeth lodged an appeal against this decision with the Privy Council,
but then took no further steps. Accordingly, the Privy Council dismissed Dr
Nemeth's appeal and he was struck off in October 2009.

On lodging his application for restoration, Dr Nemeth had asserted he was
not guilty of the original charge. The Committee was disappointed with this
aspect of Dr Nemeth's application saying that he would be "well-advised to
demonstrate some insight into the seriousness of the original findings."

The Committee emphasised that a finding of dishonesty against a member of
the College is "one of great seriousness and never made lightly" and accepted
that it may be considered "fundamentally incompatible with being a veterinary
surgeon."

Questioning Dr Nemeth, the Committee was further disappointed to learn
that he had not made himself more familiar with the RCVS Guide to
Professional Conduct, or made a greater effort to keep up to date with
veterinary practice in the UK, or provided documentary evidence of attendance
at continuing professional development (CPD) meetings.

After considering all the facts presented to it, including the severe
personal and financial impact on Dr Nemeth of his removal from the Register,
the Committee was not satisfied that he was fit to be restored and did not
consider it in the public interest to grant his application.

Acknowledging she could not bind a future Committee as to any further
application for restoration by Dr Nemeth, Committee Chairman Mrs Caroline
Freedman
advised: "Dr Nemeth should provide supporting evidence where
possible, including records of CPD, testimonials from other veterinary
surgeons or employers, or a more incisive knowledge of the Guide to
Professional Conduct. We would remind Dr Nemeth that the onus is on him to
establish his fitness to be restored to the Register."

Notes For Editors

1. The RCVS is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the UK and
deals with issues of professional misconduct, maintaining the register of
veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK and assuring standards of
veterinary education.

2. RCVS disciplinary powers are exercised through the Preliminary
Investigation and Disciplinary Committees, established in accordance with
Schedule 2 to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (the 1966 Act). The RCVS has
authority to deal with three types of case:

a) Fraudulent registration

b) Criminal convictions

c) Allegations of disgraceful professional conduct

3. The Disciplinary Committee is a constituted judicial tribunal under
the 1966 Act and follows rules of evidence similar to those used in a court
of law.

4. The burden of proving an allegation falls upon the RCVS, and the RCVS
must prove to the standard that the Committee is sure.

5. A respondent veterinary surgeon may appeal a Disciplinary Committee
decision to the Privy Council within 28 days of the date of the decision. If
no appeal is received, the Committee's judgment takes effect after this
period.

6. Further information, including the original Inquiry into Dr Janos
Nemeth
, can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary.

For more information please contact:

Ian Holloway, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, +44(0)20-7202-0727,
i.holloway@rcvs.org.uk

For more information please contact: Ian Holloway, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, +44(0)20-7202-0727, i.holloway at rcvs.org.uk

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