New AVMA Ethics Policy Reveals Flaws

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) decides on the principles, guidelines, and overall ethics that veterinarians in the United States must abide by. The Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics were recently approved and updated, and veterinarians are seeing some flaws in the new policy.

The AVMA’s ethics principles concerning end-of-life considerations show some troubling statements:

• “Euthanasia of animals is an ethical veterinary procedure when the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals is followed.”
• “Slaughter of animals is an ethical procedure when the AVMA Guidelines for the Humane Slaughter of Animals is followed.”
• “Depopulation of animals is an ethical veterinary procedure when the AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals is followed.”

These guidelines all involve ending the lives of animals and they are not based on ethics but instead on scientific criteria. In these instances, science is stating only what approaches may be used to end lives. Ethics, on the other hand, is concerned with right and wrong.

The revised Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics (PVME) explicitly state that ethical questions are beyond their scope. The AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals states that “the rationale for inducing death …is beyond its purview.” Also, the AVMA Depopulation Guidelines “do not venture into the morality of killing animals.”

Given these disclaimers, the PVME should not suggest compliance with the guidelines because compliance does not automatically absolve veterinarians of ethical concerns. The public depends on veterinarians to safeguard the welfare of animals, including those used in food production. Even the AVMA agrees, stating that “veterinarians are the leading advocates for the good welfare of animals” The guidelines also state that: “Animals shall be treated with respect and dignity throughout their lives and, when necessary, provided a humane death.”

Euthanasia can be a humane procedure when ending an animals’ suffering, but it also can be performed in circumstances that do not align with an animal’s best interest. A survey showed that 93% of vets had received inappropriate requests for euthanasia. Examples of this are convenience euthanasia, in which an animal’s life is ended due to the owner’s circumstances, and economic euthanasia, which occurs when the owner is unable to pay for necessary veterinary care.

Depopulation is defined as the mass killing of large numbers of animals. It typically occurs due to emergencies such as infectious disease outbreaks and natural disasters. One method included in the AVMA depopulation guidelines is ventilation shutdown plus (VSD+). The technique involves “closing up the house, shutting inlets, and turning off the fans” before adding heat until the animals die from hyperthermia (heat stroke). VSD+ has become a common method of depopulation in the United States because it is most convenient for humans. However, many methods of animal killing sanctioned by the AVMA’s guidelines are considered so unethical that they are banned in other countries.

Keep Your License With Help From a Tampa Veterinarian Licensing Lawyer

Ethics is a major concern for veterinarians. They have a hard job, as they have to balance the wants of a pet parent while determining what is best for the animal.

If you are dealing with ethical issues in the veterinary field, contact a Tampa veterinarian licensing lawyer from The Law Offices of David P. Rankin, P.A. I can help you deal with any issues you are facing so you can keep your license with minimal hassle. To schedule a consultation, fill out the online form or call (813) 968-6633.

Source:

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