Senior Equine Veterinarian Struck Off for Forging Medical Excuse
A leading equine veterinarian employed by the British Horseracing Authority has been struck off the professional register after she forged a GP note in a desperate attempt to justify herself during a misconduct investigation. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons tribunal heard that Bethan Cook, who is Cambridge-educated, committed forgery when she became the subject of a disciplinary probe, fabricating a medical letter to support her case.
Decade-Long Career Ends in Disgrace
Ms Cook had worked as a veterinary officer at the British Horseracing Authority for ten years, with over two decades of experience in veterinary practice overall. Her role involved ensuring compliance with racing rules from a health and safety perspective and conducting regulatory work at racing fixtures. The disciplinary investigation against her commenced in September 2023, with a hearing scheduled for June 2024, though specific details of the alleged misconduct were not disclosed at the tribunal.
During the proceedings, Ms Cook submitted a letter she claimed was written by her GP, referred to only as GW. This document purported to provide a summary of her medical history and offered opinions on how her conditions impacted workplace events. It stated with 'complete certainty' that any adverse incidents over the past 20-24 months were a direct result of her medical condition and its increasing severity.
Forgery Uncovered by HR Investigation
The British Horseracing Authority questioned the authenticity of the letter, prompting HR operations lead Joanne Horrell to contact the GP practice. It was confirmed that the report had not been created or sent by Ms Cook's doctor. When confronted, Ms Cook initially maintained that the GP had written it privately after she offered payment to expedite the process. She was asked to provide proof of this correspondence.
In response, Ms Cook sent an email with an attached letter, once again pretending it originated from her GP. She used a Yahoo email address starting with 'dgwales78' to mimic the doctor's account. She admitted to the tribunal that she forwarded this to the head of HR to create the illusion that both the email and letter were from her GP, despite knowing they were fraudulent. Ms Horrell verified with the practice that the correspondence was fake and the Yahoo address did not belong to the doctor.
Conflicting Explanations and Resignation
Ms Cook told the hearing that she had initially been content in her role but later experienced a breakdown in relationships. She explained that she was not 'compos mentis' and did not recall writing the forged letter, claiming she had consumed a large volume of alcohol and must have drafted it afterward. She even suggested the letter might have been 'planted' on her device by the British Horseracing Authority. Ms Cook admitted to 'bluffing' her way through a call with the head of HR and resigned in June 2024, stating she had been at her 'lowest point' and merely wanted to return to work.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons found her claims inconsistent with the evidence, labeling her actions as 'reckless' for potentially harming her GP's reputation. The tribunal concluded that Ms Cook had prioritized her own interests over honesty, integrity, and professional accountability, finding her guilty of disgraceful conduct. Consequently, she has been struck off the Register of Veterinary Surgeons, ending her career in disgrace.
