The director of an Incheon veterinary clinic told a reporter that they were going to keep operating after being referred to the prosecution on suspicion of habitual ketamine use.
An Incheon veterinarian accused of administering ketamine to themselves 92 times over a three-month period continues to treat animals at their clinic while awaiting trial, according to a report by [kyeonggi.com].
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety referred the veterinarian to the prosecution after finding that the practitioner administered 254 milliliters of the controlled substance in the clinic treatment rooms between July and September. Current veterinary law prevents authorities from revoking a practitioner’s license until a court issues a final sentence of imprisonment with labor or heavier for drug-related crimes.
The gap in current regulations means that prolonged court proceedings could allow a veterinarian accused of habitual narcotics abuse to keep practicing for a year or longer. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs officials said that practitioners can legally continue treating animals until their sentences are finalized, though regulators are reviewing other potential regulatory violations.
“We need to establish minimum safety safeguards, such as temporary business suspensions or restricted access to narcotics, because a veterinarian caught on illegal drug charges continuing to practice creates further risks,” said Cho Hee-kyung, president of the Korean Animal Welfare Association.
A leopard gecko operated on at the facility in July suffered a burst surgical site and exposed organs two weeks later, ultimately dying a month afterward following revision surgery at a different hospital, according to owner accounts published by [kyeonggi.com].
Lawmakers are examining regulatory limits to address gaps in the enforcement framework for medical professionals accused of drug offenses.
“Illegal narcotics use must be handled through strict standards,” said Rep. Huh Jong-sik, a member of the Democratic Party representing Dong-gu and Michuhol-gaps, as reported by [kyeonggi.com]. “We are reviewing measures to reform the system, including legislative revisions.”
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