Vet Nurse Struck Off for Injecting Himself with Dog Anesthetic
A veterinary nurse has been removed from the professional register after admitting to injecting himself with animal anesthetic and being found unresponsive at his practice.
Robert Drummond, a registered veterinary nurse, has been struck off the professional register by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) following misconduct proceedings.
Drummond was found to have stolen and injected Alfaxan, a prescription-only anesthetic used for pets, and Lidocaine while working as a locum at Collier and Brock Vets in Irvine, Ayrshire, in 2023.
The first incident occurred in August 2023 when Drummond was observed by two passers-by injecting himself with Lidocaine while seated in his car outside the practice. He reportedly told the witnesses he was "just having a wee sleep."
Following this, an investigation was launched. Drummond admitted to stealing Lidocaine but denied injecting it, claiming the syringe contained an anesthetic for a pet's nail clipping.
A month later, in September 2023, staff discovered Drummond in the practice bathroom, described as "unshaven, dishevelled and unkempt," with his trousers and underwear around his ankles. He was unresponsive, and an ambulance was called.
Drummond admitted to injecting himself with Alfaxan from the practice, though he stated he did not do it to achieve a high. He acknowledged his actions were "stupid" and expressed embarrassment.
During the RCVS misconduct hearing, the chair emphasized the importance of public trust, stating, "The public need to know that they can rely on the honesty and integrity of the people to whom they entrust the care and welfare of their animals."
Drummond had been registered as a veterinary nurse since 2017. The veterinary practice declined to comment on the matter.