College of Veterinarians of Ontario v. Iran-Manesh, 2026 ONCVO 2

DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE OF THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARIANS OF ONTARIO

Indexed as:

College of Veterinarians of Ontario v Iran-Manesh 2026 ONCVO 2

Decision date:

2026-02-10

BETWEEN:

THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARIANS OF ONTARIO

• and -

DR. KOOROSH (KEVIN) IRAN-MANESH

PANEL:

Dr. Kathleen Day Dunbar Chair, Professional Member

Dr. Danielle Anderson Professional Member

Mr. John de Bruyn Public Member

Appearances:

Bernard LeBlanc and Carly Waisglass, Counsel for the College

Josh Koziebrocki and Sarah Wise, Counsel for the Member

Luisa Ritacca, Independent Legal Counsel to the Panel

Heard:

January 21, 2026

DECISION AND REASONS FOR DECISION

1This hearing proceeded before a panel of the Discipline Committee (the “Panel”) on January 21, 2026, at the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (the “College”). The hearing was conducted by way of video conference.

2At the outset of the hearing, the Panel was advised that the parties had reached an agreement as to liability and penalty and costs.

The Allegations

3The Panel received a Notice of Hearing (Exhibit #1), dated August 26, 2024, setting out allegations against the Member.

4The background factual allegations and allegations of professional misconduct against the Member as stated in the Statement of Allegations appended to the Notice of Hearing are as follows:

Statement of Allegations

1. Dr. Koorosh (Kevin) Iran-Manesh (“Dr. Manesh”) was, at all material times, a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Ontario. Dr. Manesh practiced at Montreal Road Animal Hospital (“MRAH”) in Ottawa, Ontario.

The Facts

2. On or about March 6, 2021, Hugo, a 4-month-old male Yorkie mix puppy was seen by Dr. Manesh for puppy vaccinations. Hugo’s owner also mentioned that they had some concerns about Hugo's hind limb gait.

3. After examining Hugo and performing radiographs, Dr. Manesh diagnosed Hugo with hip dysplasia, two fractured hips and a heart murmur. Dr. Manesh advised Hugo’s owner of his diagnosis and indicated that corrective surgery would cost several thousands of dollars. Alternatively, Hugo could be euthanized or surrendered to the Ottawa Humane Society (“OHS”). The other option he suggested was strict cage rest for three months.

4. After carefully considering this advice, Hugo’s owner reluctantly surrendered Hugo to the OHS on March 10, 2021.

5. That same day, at the request of the OHS, Dr. Manesh’s office sent to OHS a copy of the x-rays that Dr. Manesh had taken on March 6, 2021, as well as two pages of his medical record for the March 6, 2021, visit.

6. Among other things, Dr. Manesh’s records for the March 6, 2021, visit stated:

“Bilatral hip dysplasia and head of cartilage on the proximal head of femor broken [sic].”

Hugo has early hip dysplasia and this is pretty severe. He also has two cracks in the cartilage of the hips.”

7. Upon presentation to OHS, Hugo was ambulatory with no obvious gait abnormality. Palpation of the hips yielded no significant abnormal findings.

8. When the radiographs taken by Dr. Manesh were reviewed by veterinarians at OHS, they showed no evidence of hip dysplasia and no visible fractures. However, the radiographs were not properly positioned for a thorough hip evaluation.

9. Follow up radiographs of Hugo at the OHS Animal Clinic under sedation to obtain proper radiographic positioning for orthopedic evaluation showed no evidence of hip dysplasia or fracture.

10. Palpation of the hips and stifles was performed under sedation and was unremarkable. Further orthopedic consultation also indicated nothing abnormal for a puppy of Hugo’s age.

11. Because it appeared that Hugo had been surrendered to the OHS as a result of a misdiagnosis by Dr. Manesh, on March 12, 2021 the OHS contacted the previous owner and advised them of their assessment. OHS also offered to return Hugo to his previous owner. Before doing so, OHS advised Dr. Manesh of their findings, and their plan to return Hugo to his previous owner.

12. Upon contacting the previous owner, the previous owner advised OHS that they had sent the radiographs taken by Dr. Manesh out for a second opinion and they were advised that no fractures or other orthopedic concerns were identified on the films. However, when they called Dr. Manesh to convey this information to them, Dr. Manesh advised the previous owner that they should ignore that opinion, or words to that effect.

13. Hugo was ultimately reunited with his previous owner.

14. OHS subsequently initiated a complaint against Dr. Manesh. As part of his response to the complaint, Dr. Manesh provided a copy of his records to the College. However, the copy of his records that he provided to the College were materially different from the records that he provided to OHS in respect of his assessment of Hugo on March 6, 2021.

15. Among other things, under the Assessment section, the version that Dr. Manesh sent to OHS on March 10, 2021 states, in part:

Bilatral hip dysplasia and head of cartilage on the proximal head of femor broken

However, the version that Dr. Manesh sent to the College states:

Possible Bilateral hip dysplasia? and possibly head of cartilage on the proximal head of femur broken? or others?

16. Similarly, under the Discussed section, the version that Dr. Manesh sent to OHS on March 10, 2021 states, in part:

Cartilage and bone are not completely attached. Usually there is a space in between the two.

However, Hugo has early hip dysplasia and this is pretty severe. He also has two cracks in the cartilage of the hips.

17. However, the equivalent section of Dr. Manesh’s records that he sent to the College states:

Cartilage and bone are not completely fused together. Usually there is a space in between them.

However, Hugo has possibly early hip dysplasia? and this is pretty serious because caused clinical signs at