Veterinary ethics

Veterinary Ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgements to the practice of veterinary medicine. As a scholarly discipline, veterinary ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology. Veterinary ethics combines veterinary professional ethics and the subject of animal ethics. It can be interpreted as a critical reflection on the provision of veterinary services in support of the profession's responsibilities to animal kind and mankind.^[1]

History

Animal welfare has been a subject that is studied in great depth, it largely looks at the ways in which an animal may suffer in particular circumstances or how their lives may be enriched. Animal ethics is another well documented subject where philosophers, since Aristotle,^[2] have commented on its importance. Often referred to as “the animal problem’ the questions that seem to be asked in this field are at their foundation trying to determine what the morally relevant difference is between animals and humans, and if there is no difference how do we justify treating animals a certain way and if there is a difference then what is it about this difference that allows us to treat animals in a certain way.

Veterinary ethics is a modern subject that does not have a defined start point. As it combines the study of animal welfare and animal ethics as its root and uses information from this as data for its deliberations it could be said to have a long history, however as an academic discipline it is only recently that works have been published on the topic.

The two academics seen to have written on veterinary ethics for the longest are Bernard Rollin (Colorado State University)^[3] and Jerrold Tannenbaum (University of California, Davis).^[4] They can be seen as the founders of the subject in veterinary ethics. Currently, most veterinary schools teach veterinary ethics and it is often combined in teaching with animal welfare or with law.

Relations with Medical Ethics

The subject is very similar to that of human medical ethics in that the study of the relationship between the doctor and the patient relates closely to that of the veterinary surgeon and animal owner. However, the subject differs greatly in the consideration of the uses of animals, while a doctor’s duty may to preserve life at nearly all cost, the veterinary surgeon needs to adapt their attitude to health and longetivity of life to the purpose of the animal (E.g., farm animals).

Much of what is understood in the field of professionalism and professional responsibilities in confidentiality, preserving autonomy, beneficence, truth-telling, whistleblowing, informed consent and communication is largely lifted from the research done in the medical profession. The difference between the human patients and the animal patients does not interfere with the professionalism discussion between doctors and human patients and vets with their clients.

Another major difference between veterinary ethics and human medical ethics is the interplay with law. Human medical ethics has driven changes in the law and, to a lesser degree, vice versa. Largely involving cases of human rights a wide ranging variety of high-profile legal challenges in many countries have involved the use of ethics to encourage changes in law (for example, assisted suicide, abortion, duty of care, rights to refuse treatment). Veterinary ethics does not have such a strong interplay. It is rare to have an animal based legal challenge reaching high into the legal system. Cases involving challenges to professionalism and duty of care are largely dealt with via the veterinary governing bodies.

The veterinary profession remains largely self-regulating across the world (e.g., by the RCVS and AVMA). This has caused some controversy as to why the veterinary profession remains one of the few remaining self-regulating professions.^[5] Bernard Rollin wrote on this the difficulty in keeping public confidence while remaining self-regulating, trust and impartiality are critical but most importantly is the need for a profession to self-sacrificial by putting the clients needs above that of the profession or professional’s need.

“Every profession—be it medicine, law, or agriculture—is given freedom by the social ethic to pursue its aims. In return, society basically says to professions it does not understand well enough to regulate, “You regulate yourselves the way we would regulate you if we understood what you do, which we don’t. But we will know if you don’t self-regulate properly and then we will [hammer you with draconian rules and] regulate you, despite our lack of understanding.”^[6]

Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) regularly reviews and updates policies and procedures including a document considered the principles of ethics. The AVMA Judicial Council acts as the group in charge of insuring the principles are current. Much like the human medical code, veterinarians are expected to "adhere to a progressive code of ethical conduct known as the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics (PVME)".^[7] In February 2015 the AVMA adopted the newest version of the "Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics" which has been approved by the AVMA House of Delegates. The contents of the principles were "modeled after the American Medical Association's Code of Ethics".^[8] Overall there are eight main principles. They are as follows:

1. A veterinarian shall be dedicated to providing competent veterinary medical care, with compassion and respect for animal welfare and human health
2. A veterinarian shall provide veterinary medical clinical care under the terms of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).
3. A veterinarian shall uphold the standards of professionalism, be honest in all professional interactions, and report veterinarians who are deficient in character or competence to the appropriate entities.
4. A veterinarian shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to seek changes to laws and regulations which are contrary to the best interests of the patient and public health.
5. A veterinarian shall respect the rights of clients, colleagues, and other health professionals, and shall safeguard medical information within the confines of the law.
6. A veterinarian shall continue to study, apply and advance scientific knowledge, maintain a commitment to veterinary medical education, make relevant information available to clients, colleagues, the public, and obtain consultation or referral when indicated.
7. A veterinarian shall, in the provision of appropriate patient care, except in emergencies, be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to provide veterinary medical care.
8. A veterinarian shall recognize a responsibility to participate in activities contributing to the improvement of the community and the betterment of public health.

• List obtained from "Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics" revised.^[9]

The full details of the updates to the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics can be found on the American Veterinary Medical Association web site located in the knowledge base article titled "Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics of the AVMA".^[10]

Key topics

The Key topics within veterinary ethics are:

• Euthanasia
• Informed consent
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Cosmetic interventions
• Non-therapeutic mutilations
• Negligence
• Professionalism
• Religious influences
• Research ethics
• Confidentiality
• Selective breeding
• Professional Regulation

Key texts

• An Introduction to Veterinary Medical Ethics: Theory and Cases by Bernard E. Rollin
• Veterinary Ethics: An Introduction by Giles Legood
• Veterinary Ethics: Animal Welfare, Client Relations, Competition & Collegiality: Animal Welfare, Client Relations, Competition and Collegiality by Jerrold Tannenbaum JD
• Law and Ethics of the Veterinary Profession by James F. Wilson and Joanne L. Garbe
• Law and ethics of the veterinary profession by James F Wilson
• Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics of the AVMA as adopted by the AVMA Judicial Council

Conferences

• The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW)^[11] offer yearly conferences on animal welfare which may be of interest to veterinary ethicists.
• The Institute of Medical Ethics^[12] also offer conferences, often several times a year, on the issues of ethics that affect doctors. However, as many of these are transferable to veterinary ethics it may also provide an interesting.
• The Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Veterinary Association (AWSELVA)^[13] have regularly meetings on the all the subjects in its title.
• The First International Conference of Veterinary and Animal Ethics^[14] has just been announced, with bursaries available for students attendees.
• American Veterinary Medical Association Leadership Conference and House of Delegates^[15]
• American Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention^[16]
• Pet Health Awareness Events^[17]

References