South Carolina is one of the vet boards that puts the disciplinary records of vets online. You can find these records at:
http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/Veterinary/index.asp?file=finalorders.htm
The problem is that like some other states, they give you no detail about what occurred.
So, here is my advice: When in doubt, ASSUME THE WORST.
Take the case of "C. Kenneth Banks, DVM". He was disciplined by the South Carolina Veterinary Board in November of 2006.
The Board's findings state:
"[Banks] admits that he failed to meet the requisite standard of care in his treatment of a female canine, named "Bella" as alleged in the formal complaint . . . [he also] admits that as a result of the previous admissions herein, [he] has violated S.C. code Ann. 40-69-140(11) and (12) (Supp. 2004), as alleged."
So, I go look up S.C. code, right?
Check it out:
http://www.scstatehouse.net/CODE/t40c069.htm
Well, get a load of the title of Section 40-69-140:
"SECTION 40-69-140. Prior criminal record.
A license may be denied based on a person's prior criminal record only as provided for in Section 40-1-140."
??????
So, does this guy have a prior criminal record
Or perhaps, the section violated was one which cites "negligent" practice of veterinary medicine. For, according to this website (South Carolina Administrative Law Court Decisions, S.C. Code Ann. §40-69-140(12) states:
"The board may deny, suspend, revoke or restrict the license of a veterinarian or reprimand or discipline a licensee for . . . (12) engaging in conduct determined by the board to be incompetent or negligent in the practice of veterinary medicine…"
This is all very confusing to the layperson, without the Board enumerating the nature of the violation and specifying statutes violated in plain english rather than referencing sections of code that are modified whenever revisions are passed.
But perhaps obfuscating the truth is EXACTLY what the vet board hopes to do.
This is exactly how UNHELPFUL to the public the South Carolina Vet Board's "public" records are - and I believe that is entirely deliberate.
