The Gift: Ethically Indicated Euthanasia in Companion Animal Practice
The majority of companion animals seen by veterinary practitioners will die by euthanasia. Yet euthanasia can be a source of moral stress for veterinary team members, even when ethically indicated. In this discussion, I explore when euthanasia is ethically indicated and discuss the potential impact...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-07-01
|
| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/8/8/141 |
| _version_ | 1797521885831888896 |
|---|---|
| author | Anne Quain |
| author_facet | Anne Quain |
| author_sort | Anne Quain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The majority of companion animals seen by veterinary practitioners will die by euthanasia. Yet euthanasia can be a source of moral stress for veterinary team members, even when ethically indicated. In this discussion, I explore when euthanasia is ethically indicated and discuss the potential impact of ethically indicated euthanasia on veterinary team members. In particular, I challenge the analogy that the veterinarian performing ethically indicated euthanasia is akin to an executioner, arguing that this analogy is both inappropriate and potentially harmful. Finally, I discuss how we can support ourselves and our colleagues in relation to euthanasia, so we can attend to and maximise the welfare of our patients at the end of their lives. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:18:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-afd0febcdf534480a8c30853758a4817 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:18:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-afd0febcdf534480a8c30853758a48172023-11-22T10:08:24ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812021-07-018814110.3390/vetsci8080141The Gift: Ethically Indicated Euthanasia in Companion Animal PracticeAnne Quain0Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2006, AustraliaThe majority of companion animals seen by veterinary practitioners will die by euthanasia. Yet euthanasia can be a source of moral stress for veterinary team members, even when ethically indicated. In this discussion, I explore when euthanasia is ethically indicated and discuss the potential impact of ethically indicated euthanasia on veterinary team members. In particular, I challenge the analogy that the veterinarian performing ethically indicated euthanasia is akin to an executioner, arguing that this analogy is both inappropriate and potentially harmful. Finally, I discuss how we can support ourselves and our colleagues in relation to euthanasia, so we can attend to and maximise the welfare of our patients at the end of their lives.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/8/8/141euthanasiacompanion animalveterinarian |
| spellingShingle | Anne Quain The Gift: Ethically Indicated Euthanasia in Companion Animal Practice Veterinary Sciences euthanasia companion animal veterinarian |
| title | The Gift: Ethically Indicated Euthanasia in Companion Animal Practice |
| title_full | The Gift: Ethically Indicated Euthanasia in Companion Animal Practice |
| title_fullStr | The Gift: Ethically Indicated Euthanasia in Companion Animal Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Gift: Ethically Indicated Euthanasia in Companion Animal Practice |
| title_short | The Gift: Ethically Indicated Euthanasia in Companion Animal Practice |
| title_sort | gift ethically indicated euthanasia in companion animal practice |
| topic | euthanasia companion animal veterinarian |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/8/8/141 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annequain thegiftethicallyindicatedeuthanasiaincompanionanimalpractice AT annequain giftethicallyindicatedeuthanasiaincompanionanimalpractice |