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A ‘brilliant’ veterinarian murdered himself with a euthanasia pill after growing increasingly upset by ‘wealthy’ clients requesting that he put their animals down needlessly, according to an inquiry.
According to a coroner, Dr. John Ellis was angry that ‘brand new’ cars parked outside his office wouldn’t pay to rescue their animals.
The 35-year-old, on the other hand, informed his mother that patients who were unable to pay for treatment frequently arrived with their pets too late for any action to be taken.
This was ‘terrible’ for her son, Tina Ellis, a Conservative councillor from Fareham, Hampshire, told an inquest investigating his death.
“Stressed” By pretending he required the lethal drug to put down a friend’s “large dog,” Dr. Ellis, who the hearing was informed was also living a “double life” by surreptitiously cheating on his long-term girlfriend, deceived a veterinary nurse into giving him the medication.
Rather, he took the medicine to end his own life by intravenous drip; according to Dr. Ellis’s father, the euthanasia pill’s ease of access was like giving his son “a loaded gun.”
At the time of his death in November 2022, Winchester Coroner’s Court was informed that Dr. Ellis, who worked at a practice close to the city, was under a lot of stress in both his personal and professional lives.
‘Owners are leaving it too late to come in, they weren’t seeking treatment early enough for things that should have been pretty straightforward,’ Mrs. Ellis told the hearing after her son told her.
John Ellis, a 35-year-old veterinarian, killed himself by consuming a quantity of medication meant to put animals to sleep.
When Dr. Ellis passed away in November 2022, a coroner was informed that he was under a lot of stress in both his personal and professional lives.
“There was nothing they could do because it was already too late,” according to her son, “when I have someone saying they won’t pay to help their animal and they’re sitting there with a brand new car outside, and other people who were really struggling [financially] would do anything to save their animals.”
Heartbroken “He was finding that destroying,” Mrs. Ellis continued.
At the time of his death, Dr. Ellis was a resident at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists. He told his mother that he had been experiencing sleep problems.
Mrs. Ellis told the inquiry that while he was on call, he would occasionally sleep in his car rather than go home and have to drive to the vet in an emergency. She also mentioned that her son was experiencing financial difficulties.
“He was having a hard time with everything that had built up,” she added.
Additionally, the inquest heard that Dr. Ellis had been having an affair with Ryan Hunt for the past two years, cheating on Ashley James, his 12-year partner.
Dr. Ellis was “almost living a double life,” according to Alex MacDonald, director of Animed, the practice where the veterinarian obtained the medications he used to terminate his life, who testified at the inquest.
Radiographer Mr. James testified at the court that he was unaware of Dr. Ellis’s infidelity until after his passing.
According to what the inquest heard, he had told his mother and a friend that he intended to sever his relationship with Mr. James.
The veterinarian informed Mr. James that he would be picking up a shipment from Animed and getting some food on the evening of November 6, 2022.
When he arrived, he informed a nurse that he had been authorized to get some medicine to put a friend’s dog to sleep at home. A ‘big’ dog might be put to sleep with the dose, according to the inquiry.
Then, while on vacation in Tenerife, Dr. Ellis visited a friend’s home.
He contacted Mr. James, who informed the inquiry that Dr. Ellis had stated, “He told me he loved me, but he had done something stupid.”
‘He claimed he wasn’t going to hurt me any more, and hung up the phone,’ he told the inquest after he also called Mr. Hunt.
Dr. Ellis was discovered giving himself the medications in the house’s back bathroom after the police were summoned.
Early on November 7, he was declared dead after being transported to the Royal Hampshire County hospital in Winchester.
Robert, the father of Dr. Ellis, told the inquiry that he felt his son had a “loaded gun” because of how simple it was to obtain the drug.
Documenting a suicide verdict The death of Dr. Ellis was described as “a huge waste of a talented life” by Hampshire’s assistant coroner, Simon Burge.
The family and all of his friends really regret that he should have taken the hasty and unnecessary choice that he did.
At the time of his passing, Dr. Ellis was a resident at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists.
After Dr. Ellis passed away, a coworker at his previous job posted a memorial to him online.
He claimed to have done it in reaction to problems in multiple relationships. “He was bewildered by his long-term relationship and possibly an obsession with this younger man, Ryan, as well as the significant stress that the residency brought about due to the financial strains.”
Mr. Burge cautioned about how Dr. Ellis had obtained the medications in a Prevention of Future Deaths report sent to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
He obtained a toxic amount of [the medication] by deceiving his previous employers into believing he needed it to put a huge dog to sleep, and he used an intravenous line to self-administer it.
Without being questioned about the drug’s intended use, he was able to obtain it while knowing it was harmful.
“With no proper controls in place to prevent their misuse, veterinary surgeons, like the deceased, have easy access to potentially fatal drugs.”
In this instance, the deceased was able to fabricate a story claiming he required the medicine to conduct a home visit with the alleged goal of putting a large dog to sleep.
His previous employers gave him the medication without first checking his explanation for its necessity or having another veterinary surgeon examine it.
According to an inquest, Dr. Ellis was angry that customers who had “brand new” cars parked outside his office weren’t prepared to pay to save their animals.
“He was given permission to leave the veterinary clinic alone with the medication, which he used to inject himself to end his life.”
“Those who knew John will remember him not only for his professional expertise but also for his warmth, generosity, and genuine love for animals,” the family said in a statement released by suicide charity Amparo.
He gave his all to his profession, and his absence leaves a profound hole in the hearts of everyone who had the honor of working with and getting to know him.
Our family is saddened by John’s passing and is still dealing with the shock and heartache that come with losing someone so young and full of promise.
We would like to use this chance to urge anyone who might be dealing with mental health issues to get help and not endure their suffering in secret.
“We encourage everyone to seek assistance if they are in need, and we believe that no one should feel isolated.”
Following Dr. Ellis’s passing, Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists shared a touching remark from colleagues: “John was a wonderful person and an incredibly talented vet; time with John never failed to make your day brighter.” Everyone who knew him will be sorely missing him.
