Vet Injects Herself, Friends With Horse Tranquilizer During Weekend Party; Fired

A veterinary surgeon in Australia has been fired for taking undue advantage of her profession and injecting two friends with horse tranquilizers during a weekend party.

Surgeon Catherine McGuigan, who worked at Murray Veterinary Services, frequently went on weekends with friends with whom she used to engage in drugs like cocaine and ecstasy, India Times reported.

During one such weekend bender last month, the trio had rented an apartment in Wannanup, and were drinking alcohol and snorting cocaine. That’s when the animal doctor showed everyone the vial of ketamine. After asking her friends' weight to calculate the amount of ketamine she could give them, McGuigan injected them with the drug.

Admitting the same, she told the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) she had carried a vial of ketamine with her on the weekend. She said she injected herself and her two friends with it. McGuigan added she also provided one of her friends with diazepam, which is a strong muscle relaxer, to help her sleep. She also admitted to giving herself Airway Gel, which is used to treat horses with respiratory problems.

"When acting in the lawful practice of her profession as a veterinary surgeon, the respondent was authorized to possess ketamine but was not authorized to administer or use ketamine on humans. The respondent was required to make a clinical record of its supply but she did not do so," the SAT said, Ladbible reported.

Investigation revealed McGuigan had instructed her friends to keep the drug use a secret or else she could lose her job. However, it wasn't clear how the incident came to light.

McGuigan was remorseful and accepted responsibility for her actions.

"The respondent misused, or improperly used, the authority granted to her ... as a registered veterinary surgeon. As a veterinary surgeon, she was only authorized to administer, supply or use ketamine, diazepam and clenbuterol hydrochloride for the treatment of an animal," the SAT said, Ladbible reported.

Mcguigan was removed from the register of veterinary surgeons in Western Australia and slapped with a fine of $1,000, plus $3,000 in costs.