New York Veterinarian Suspended, Fined
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
A New York veterinarian has been suspended and fined after he allegedly provided the drug albuterol to a licensed owner without examining the horse, and for using a fictitious name of the horse in connection with the incident.
According to the New York State Gaming Commission ruling's database, Dr. Camilo B. Sierra will serve a 21-day suspension beginning Feb. 1, 2018, and will pay a $4,500 fine after withdrawing his request for a hearing. The state steward at Aqueduct Racetrack initially suspended the veterinarian for 30 days and levied a $2,500 fine.
According to the steward's ruling, "Dr. Camilo B. Sierra committed an improper, corrupt, and fraud act and practice in relation to racing, and committed and attempted to commit fraud and misrepresentation with racing, in that:
"(a) Dr. Camilo Sierra knowingly prescribed a 500mi supply of the drug 'Albuterol' without having examined the horse for which the drug purportedly was prescribed and using fictitious horse name for the prescription, for a horse owner actively participating in New York horse racing and attending to horses on the grounds of Belmont park; and
"(b) Dr. Camilo Sierra prescribed a 500mi supply of the drug "Albuterol" to a licensed owner, while knowing that such person did not intend to use drug to treat the horse for whom the prescribed purportedly was written, or to treat a horse for whom the drug had been properly prescribed in violation of 9 NYCRR 4042.1(f) and 4002.9(a)."
As part of the agreement with the regulatory agency, Sierra agreed to charges of improper dispensation of a prescription drug, delegating veterinary care to a lay person, and faulty prescription of a drug.