Adelaide vet Marcus Wei Sheng Tan denies allegations in SA Civil and Administrative Tribunal, admits drinking dog semen
A vet has admitted he drank an animal’s semen but has denied other allegations – and he could now be banned from practising. Warning: Graphic content
North & North East
Don't miss out on the headlines from North & North East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A vet who practised at several South Australian surgeries has admitted to drinking an animal's semen amid allegations he also improperly touched several dogs on their vaginas and testicles.
Marcus Wei Sheng Tan faces disciplinary action through the SA Civil and Administrative Tribunal after the allegations were presented following a complaint by the state’s Veterinary Surgeons Board.
The complaint sheet, viewed by The Messenger, alleged Mr Tan was “guilty of unprofessional conduct” in delivering veterinary services on six separate times between September 2020 and May 2021.
Two of those grounds alleged Mr Tan ingested an animal’s semen.
Mr Tan’s filed response to the complaint sheet admitted ingesting semen on one of the occasions, but stated that in doing so he had not breached veterinary standards because it did not endanger the animal.
“The conduct … was intended to be private and was not intended to, and did not, harm, or put at risk of harm, any animal, in any way,” the response to the complaint sheet read.
Mr Tan is understood to have practised in artificial insemination and animal genetics.
Three separate allegations against Mr Tan accused him of inappropriately touching several animals.
The complaint sheet detailed the alleged touching on one occasion to have occurred after the artificial insemination of a labrador during which Mr Tan was accused of tweaking the dog’s nipples and tickling her vulva.
The complaint also alleged Mr Tan, over a sustained period of time, inserted “a finger or two” in female dogs’ vaginas prior to artificial insemination procedures while “pulling or flicking their nipples and slapping them”.
It was alleged Mr Tan also slapped and squeezed the testicles of male dogs while they awaited castration procedures.
A final allegation said Mr Tan “stuck four fingers and a thumb into (a dog’s) vagina and repeatedly pushed them in and out for about 20 seconds”.
The vet board in the complaint sheet said there was “no legitimate medical purpose” for any of the actions allegedly taken.
Aside from conceding he ingested “less than 0.1 cubic millimetres of animal semen from a syringe” on one occasion, Mr Tan denied all other allegations.
With the allegations yet to be subject to a hearing, Mr Tan was understood to still be practising as a veterinarian and he was still registered with the SA Veterinary Surgeons Board, who could not comment on the ongoing legal matter, with no imposed conditions.
“The Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia is unable to comment on the matter as it is the subject of proceedings before the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal,” a spokesperson said.
Mr Tan and his legal team fought to have his name and the details of the allegations suppressed as it would harm his reputation both socially and professionally, a move resisted by lawyers for The Messenger.
Tribunal Senior Member Jacqui Rugless ruled the allegations were in the public interest and dismissed the application.
Mr Tan has been approached for comment.
Man dies after cancer ‘missed three times by doctors’
He was told he was in the clear, but terminal stomach cancer went unnoticed by doctors on numerous scans, leaving this man with a year to live, an inquest has heard.
Read more
Power giant rates rip-off: We pay their bills in ‘outdated’ loophole
South Australians are being short-changed millions of dollars thanks to an “outdated” rule that other states have scrapped.
Read more