Vet, 35, took his own life using drugs to euthanize pets after becoming angry with wealthy clients asking to have their animals euthanized, inquest hears

A ‘talented’ vet killed himself with a drug used to euthanise pets after growing increasingly concerned about wealthy clients asking him to unnecessarily euthanize their animals, an inquest heard.

Dr. John Ellis was angry that people with ‘brand new’ cars parked outside his practice would not pay to help their animals, a coroner was told.

In contrast, the 35-year-old told his mother that clients who couldn’t afford the treatment often brought their pets in too late for anything to be done.

Tina Ellis, a Conservative councilor in Fareham, Hampshire, told an inquest into her son’s death that he found it ‘devastating’.

‘Stressed’ doctor Ellis – who the hearing was told was also living a ‘double life’ as he had secretly cheated on his long-term partner – tricked a vet into giving him the lethal drug by falsely claiming he had it needed to put down a friend’s ‘big dog’.

Instead, he used the drug to kill himself via an intravenous drip – with Mr Ellis’ father saying easy access to the euthanasia drug was like giving his son a ‘loaded gun’.

The Winchester Coroner’s Court was told that Dr Ellis, who worked in a practice near the city, was experiencing significant stress in both his professional and private life at the time of his death in November 2022.

Ms Ellis told the hearing that her son told her: ‘Owners are late to get in, they haven’t sought help early enough for things that could have been very simple.’

Veterinarian Dr. John Ellis, 35, took his own life by ingesting a quantity of drugs used to kill pets

Dr. Ellis was experiencing significant stress in both his professional and private life at the time of his death in November 2022, a coroner was told

Her son reportedly said, “If I have someone who says they don’t want to pay to help their animal and they’re sitting out there with a brand new car, and other people who were really struggling [financially] would do anything to save their animals, but they could do nothing because it was already too late.

“He found that devastating,” a heartbroken Mrs. Ellis added.

Dr. Ellis was living at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists at the time of his death and told his mother he was having trouble sleeping.

He would sometimes sleep in his car when he was on duty, rather than going home and driving to the vets in an emergency, Ms Ellis told the inquest. Her son was also under financial pressure, she added.

“All these things were piling up and he was finding it difficult,” she said.

The inquest also revealed that Dr. Ellis had been secretly cheating on his partner of 12 years, Ashley James, with another man, Ryan Hunt, for the past two years.

Alex MacDonald, director of Animed – the practice where the vet obtained the drugs he used to end his life – told the inquest that Dr. Ellis ‘almost led a double life’

Mr James, a radiologist, told the hearing he did not know Dr Ellis had deceived him until after his death.

‘Stressed’ doctor Ellis tricked a vet nurse into giving him the deadly drug by falsely claiming he needed it to put a friend’s ‘big dog’ to sleep, an inquest heard

On the evening of November 6, 2022, the vet – who the inquest heard had informed his mother and a friend of his intention to break up with Mr James – told him he was going to get some food and a package from Animed would pick up.

Once there, he told a nurse that he had been given permission to pick up medication to put down a friend’s dog at home. The inquest found that the dose was sufficient to euthanize a ‘large’ dog.

Dr. Ellis then went to the home of a friend who was on holiday in Tenerife at the time.

He called Mr James, who told the inquest that Dr Ellis said ‘he had done something stupid – he told me he loved me’.

He also called Mr Hunt, who told the inquest: ‘He said he wouldn’t hurt me anymore and hung up.’

After police were called, Dr. Ellis was found in the back bathroom of the home after administering the drugs to himself.

He was taken to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester but was pronounced dead in the early hours of November 7.

Dr.’s father Ellis, Robert, told the inquest that easy access to the medication that killed his son made him feel like his son had access to a “loaded gun.”

Recording a verdict of suicide Simon Burge, assistant coroner for Hampshire, said Dr Ellis’ death was ‘a colossal waste of a talented life’.

“It is a matter of deep regret to the family and all his friends that he has made the hasty and unnecessary decision he has made.

Dr. Ellis was a resident of Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists at the time of his death

“He did it in the context of relationship problems in more than one relationship,” he said. “He was confused by his long-term love and perhaps an infatuation with this younger man Ryan, coupled with the significant stress associated with the residency and the financial strain it caused.”

In a report to Prevent Future Deaths sent to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Mr Burge warned about how Dr Ellis could have obtained the drugs.

‘He used an intravenous line to self-administer a toxic amount [the drug]which he obtained by falsely claiming to his former employers that he needed to euthanize a large dog.

‘He was given access to the drug, which he knew was dangerous, without being asked what its purpose was.

“Veterinary surgeons, such as the deceased, can easily gain access to potentially lethal drugs… without adequate controls in place to prevent their misuse.

‘The deceased in this case was able to concoct a story that he needed the drug to make a home visit, with the aim of euthanizing a large dog.

‘It is given [the drug] by his former employers, without any check having been carried out first to verify his story as to why this was necessary and without examination by another veterinarian.

Dr. Ellis was angry that people with ‘brand new’ cars parked outside his practice would not pay to help their animals, an inquest heard.

‘He was allowed to leave the veterinary practice unaccompanied, with the medicine, with which he subsequently took his own life through an IV.’

In a statement from suicide charity Amparo, the family said: ‘Those who knew John will remember him not only for his professional expertise, but also for his warmth, generosity and genuine love of animals.

“He poured his heart into his work and his absence leaves a deep void in the lives of all who had the privilege of working with him and knowing him personally.

“As a family we are devastated by the loss of John, and we continue to grapple with the heartbreak and shock that comes with the death of someone so young and full of potential.

‘We would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who may be struggling with mental health issues to seek support and not suffer in silence.

‘No one should feel like they are alone, and we urge everyone to seek help if they need it.’

• For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org