The Disciplinary Committee of the RCVS has postponed judgement in the case of a veterinary surgeon who was convicted of causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of alcohol.

Twice over the legal limit, Peter Hanlon MRCVS set out in his car to collect his son from the local railway station. On the way, he drifted across the road and collided with an oncoming car, killing its driver, and making a widow of the passenger.

The case raises an interesting question. Do you think Mr Hanlon should have been struck off? On reading the press release, that was certainly my first reaction. But Mr Hanlon has already received his punishment from the courts: 30 months at her Majesty's pleasure. And whilst people will have their own opinion about whether that's a lenient sentence or not (especially since most prisoners seem to be out in about five minutes these days), it is for the courts to apply punishment, not the RCVS.

As it is, the suspended ruling allows the RCVS to monitor Mr Hanlon's progress after his release, and come down hard if he breaks his undertakings to the Committee.

Click here for full details of the ruling.