Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Overview on Ethics and Ethical Decision-Making Process in Veterinary Practice

  • Review Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Veterinary ethics is a coordination of ethical principles that apply morals, values and judgements to the practice of veterinary profession. Veterinary ethics cover its practical application in veterinary practices as well as on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology. Veterinary ethics combine veterinary professional ethics and the focus of animal ethics. It can be inferred as a critical manifestation on the provision of veterinary services in hold of the profession’s responsibilities to animal kind and mankind. Many ethical issues arise in a business unit in veterinary practice. Whenever such issues arise, it may lead to dilemmas, then proper and well-thought out ethical decision is to be made. Ethical decision making process in a business unit in veterinary practice is the use of ethical theories, principles, and rules by veterinary professionals and paraprofessionals in resolving ethical dilemmas in the veterinary practice. In order to resolve ethical dilemmas, being aware of and revelation to ethical theories is essential. Thoughtfulness of animal welfare and ethical issues is an essential component of a good ethical veterinary practice. This article reviews and discusses the ethics and major steps engaged in the ethical decision-making process in a business unit in veterinary practice. Strong commitment to the role, organization’s commitment to ethics and staff support could lower the levels of moral stress while facing ethical dilemma in a veterinary practice. Though using the ethical frameworks portrayed may not change the actual decisions finally reached by veterinary professionals, a good knowledge of ethical issues is imperative for client communication, better job satisfaction and preserving a positive public outline for both the individual and the veterinary practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahern, B. J. (2018). Declaring an animal abandoned. Resource document. New York state veterinary medical society. https://www.nysvms.org/general/custom.asp? page = declaring abandoned. Accessed 8 July 2018.

  • Alexander, B., & Elizabeth, M. P. (1974). Kant’s treatment of animals. Philosophy, 49(190), 83–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, B., & Elizabeth, M. P. (1975). Kant’s concept of “Respect”. Kant-Studien, 66(1–4), 58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arries, E. (2005). Virtue ethics: An approach to moral dilemmas in nursing. Curationis, 28(3), 64–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batchelor, C. E. M., & McKeegan, D. E. F. (2012). Survey of the frequency and perceived stressfulness of ethical dilemmas encountered in UK veterinary practice. Veterinary Record, 170(1), 19-U55. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.100262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumans, V. (2004). Use of Animals in experimental research: An ethical dilemma? Gene Therapy, 1(Suppl), 6–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beauchamp, T., & Childress, J. (2001). Principles of biomedical ethics (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of biomedical ethics (7th ed., p. 2013). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben, D. (2016). Utilitarianism and animal cruelty: Further doubts. De Ethica. A Journal of Philosophical, Theological and Applied Ethics, 3(3), 5–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentham, J. (1780). An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation. New York: Dover.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentham, J., & Mill, J. S. (1961). The utilitarians an introduction to the principles of morals and legislation [by] Jeremy Bentham. utilitarianism and on liberty [by] John Stuart Mill. New York: Doubleday.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard, E. R. (1987). Euthanasia and moral stress. Loss, Grief & Care, 1(1–2), 115–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowden, P. (2012). Applied ethics: Strengthening ethical practices. Prahran: Tilde University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowden, P., & Smythe, V. (2008). Theories on teaching & training in ethics. Electronic Journal of Business Ethics and Organization Studies (EJBO), 13(2), 19–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, S. A. (2005). A practical model for ethical decision making in issue management and public relations. Journal Public Relations Research, 17(3), 191–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buck, J., Moore, J., Schwartz, M., & Supon, S. (2001). What is ethical behavior for an academic adviser? The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal, 3(1), 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chmielewski, C. (2004).The importance of values and culture in ethical decision making. Resource document. NACADA clearinghouse of academic advising resources. http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Clearinghouse/View-Articles/Values-and-culture-in-ethical-decision-making.aspx. Accessed 14 April 2018.

  • Christiansen, S. B., Kristensen, A. T., Lassen, J., & Sandoe, P. (2016). Veterinarians’ role in clients’ decision-making regarding seriously ill companion animal patients. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 58, 30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chugh, D., & Bazerman, M. H. (2007). Bounded awareness: What you fail to see can hurt you. Mind & Society, 6(1), 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coe, J. B., Adams, C. L., & Bonnett, B. N. (2007). A focus group study of veterinarians’ and pet owners’ perceptions of the monetary aspects of veterinary care. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 231, 1510–1518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crane, M. F., Bayl-Smith, P., & Cartmill, J. A. (2013). Recommendation for expanding the definition of moral distress experienced in the workplace. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Organisational Psychology, 6, 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crane, M. F., Phillips, J. K., & Karin, E. (2015). Trait perfectionism strengthens the negative effects of moral stressors occurring in veterinary practice. Australian Veterinary Journal, 93, 354–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duel, D. (2000). Violence prevention and intervention: A directory of animal related programs (p. 888-213-0956). Washington: The Humane Society of the United States.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, C. B., True, G., Alexander, L., & Fried, A. L. (2013). Moral stress, moral practice, and ethical climate in community-based drug-use research: Views from the front line. AJOB Primary Research, 4(3), 27–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleck, G. C. (2012). Ethical considerations in the prosecution of animal cruelty cases. Tales of Justice, 2(1), 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardiner, P. A. (2003). Virtue ethics approach to moral dilemmas in medicine. Journal of Medical Ethics, 29, 297–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gavriel, M. (2015). Normative and descriptive aspects of management education: Differentiation and integration. Journal of Educational Issues, 1(1), 97–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartnack, S., Springer, S., Pittavino, M., & Grimm, H. (2016). Attitudes of Austrian veterinarians towards euthanasia in small animal practice: Impacts of age and gender on views on euthanasia. BMC Veterinary Research, 12, 26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henk ten Have, A. M. J. (2016). Encyclopedia of global bioethics (1st ed.). Cham: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez, E., Fawcett, A., Brouwer, E., Rau, J., & Turner, P. V. (2018). Speaking up: Veterinary ethical responsibilities and animal welfare issues in everyday practice. Animals, 8(1), 15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hojnacki, W. (2004). Three rules of management in managerial decision making. Graduate course conducted in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. South Bend: Indiana University South Bend.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, B. V. (2011). Education: The keystone of the veterinary profession. Veterinary Record, 169, 222–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joordens, S. (2018). The ethics of animal research: The dilemma and alternative approaches. Resource document. Inaugural Journal of World universities Forum, University of Toronto Scarborough. http://psych.utoronto.ca/users/psy3001/files/Joordens.pdf. Accessed 4 July 2018.

  • Kong, W. M. (2015). What is good medical ethics? A clinician’s perspective. Journal of Medical Ethics, 41, 79–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laura, P. H., Joseph, D. J., & Chris, M. (2017). Business ethics: Decision making for personal integrity & social responsibility (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill edu.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leininger, M. B. (1998). Introduction. In P. Olson (Ed.), Recognizing and reporting animal abuse: A veterinarian’s guide. Englewood: American Humane Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindahl, J. F., & Grace, D. (2015). The consequences of human actions on risks for infectious diseases: A review. Infection Ecology & Epidemiology, 5(10), 3402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Main, D. C. J. (2006). Offering the best to patients: Ethical issues associated with the provision of veterinary services. The Veterinary Record, 158, 62–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Main, D. C. J. (2007). Views on euthanasia. The Veterinary Record, 161, 144. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.161.4.144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Main, D. C. J., Thornton, P., & Kerr, K. (2005). Teaching animal welfare science, ethics and law to veterinary students in the United Kingdom. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 32, 505–508.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McIvor, J. (2016). The ethics of infectious disease control. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metzger, M. M. (2015). Knowledge of the animal welfare act and animal welfare regulations influences attitudes toward animal research. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 54(1), 5–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mill, J. S. (2003). Utilitarianism and on Liberty: Including ‘essay on Bentham’ and selections from the writings of Jeremy Bentham and John Austin. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mogbo, T. C., Oduah, F. N., Okeke, J. J., Ufele, A. N., & Nwankwo, O. D. (2013). Animal cruelty: A review. Journal of Natural Science Research, 3(8), 8–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, W. (2010). Applying applied ethics through ethics consulting. Transfusion and Apheresis Science, 42, 209–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, C. A., & McDonald, M. (2007). Ethical dilemmas in veterinary medicine. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 37, 165–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2006.09.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morton, D. B., Magalhães-Sant’Ana, M., Ohl, F., Ilieski, V., Simonin, D., Keeling, L., Wohr, A. C., Zemljic, B., Neuhaus, D., & Pesie, S. (2013). FVE & EAEVE report on European veterinary education in animal welfare science, ethics and law. Resource document. Executive summary. European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.14889.70243. Accessed 23 October 2018.

  • Mullan, S., & Fawcett, A. (2017). Veterinary ethics: Navigating through tough cases. Sheffield: 5M Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orlitzky, M., Swanson, D. L., & Quartermine, L. (2006). Normative myopia, executives’ personality, and preference for pay dispersion toward implications for corporate social performance. Business and Society, 45(2), 149–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paton, H. J. (1948). The categorical imperative: A study in Kant’s Moral Philosophy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patricia, H. W., & Brian, M. (2009). Moral imagination and management decision making. Charlottesville: Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prendergast, H. (2015). Front office management for the veterinary team (2nd ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Regan, M. C. (2013). Nested ethics: A tale of two cultures. Hofstra Law Review, 42, 143–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, S. J., Bradley, P., Owens, B. P., & Rubenstein, A. L. (2012). Moral stress: Considering the nature and effects of managerial moral uncertainty. Journal of Business Ethics, 106(4), 491–502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rollin, B. E. (1978). Updating veterinary medical ethics. JAVMA, 173, 1015–1018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rollin, B. E. (2002). Commentary: The use and abuse of Aesculapian authority in veterinary medicine. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 220, 114–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rollin, B. E. (2006). An introduction to veterinary medical ethics: Theory and cases (2nd ed.). Ames: Iowa State University Press. ISBN 978-1-118-70451-6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rollin, B. E. (2009). Ethics and euthanasia. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 50, 6–1081.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rollin, B. E. (2011). Euthanasia, moral stress, and chronic illness in veterinary medicine. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Animal Practice, 41, 9–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2011.03.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandoe, P., & Christiansen, S. B. (2008). Ethics of animal use. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimera, S. I., & Mlangwa, J. E. D. (2015). Veterinary ethics. In H. ten Have (Ed.), Encyclopedia of global bioethics. Cham: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, J. R., Barley, G. E., Hill, A. E., Larson, S., & Roter, D. L. (2010). Communication skills education onsite in a veterinary practice. Patient Education and Counseling, 80, 337–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singer, P. (1975). Animal liberation: A new ethics for our treatment of animals (2nd ed.). Broadway: HarperCollins Publishers L.L.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, P. (1978). The fable of the fox and the un liberated animals. Ethics, 88(2), 119–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singer, P. (1985). Ethics. In Encyclopedia britannica (pp. 627–648). Chicago, IL: Encyclopedia Britannica.

  • Singer, P. (1993a). A companion to ethics. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, P. (1993b). Practical ethics (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stark, C., & Dougall, N. (2012). Effect of attitudes to euthanasia on vets’ suicide risk. Veterinary Record, 171, 3–172. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.e5494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephens, T. (2012). Veterinary professional ethics. In P. Bowden (Ed.), Applied ethics: Strengthening ethical practices. Melbourne: Tilde University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugarman, J., & Sulmasy, D. P. (2010). Methods in medical ethics (2nd ed.). Washington: Georgetown University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, D. L. (1999). Toward an integrative strategy of business and society: A research strategy for corporate social performance. Academy of Management Review, 24, 506–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tannenbaum, J. (1989). Veterinary ethics. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tannenbaum, J. (1993). Veterinary medical ethics: A focus of conflicting interests. Journal of Social Issues, 49, 56–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1993.tb00914.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tannenbaum, J. (1995). Veterinary ethics: Animal welfare, client relations, competition and collegiality (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vlissingen, M. F. V. (2001). Professional ethics in veterinary science—considering the consequences as a tool for problem solving. Veterinary Sciences Tomorrow, 1, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, A. (2013). The history of veterinary ethics in Britain, ca.1870–2000. In C. M. Wathes, S. A. Corr, S. A. May, S. P. McCulloch, & M. C. Whiting, (Eds.), Veterinary and Animal Ethics: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Veterinary and Animal Ethics, September 2011 (pp. 3–18). Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

  • Yeates, J. W. (2009). Response and responsibility: An analysis of veterinary ethical conflicts. The Veterinary Journal, 182, 3–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeates, J. W. (2010a). Death is a welfare issue. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 23(3), 229–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeates, J. W. (2010b). Ethical aspects of euthanasia of owned animals. In Practice, 32, 3–70. https://doi.org/10.1136/inp.c516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeates, J. W. (2013). Animal welfare in veterinary practice. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Yeates, J. W. (2018). Why keep a dog and bark yourself? Making choices for non-human animals. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 35(1), 85–168. https://doi.org/10.1111/japp.12155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeates, J. W., & Main, D. C. J. (2008). Assessment of positive welfare: A review. The Veterinary Journal, 175, 293–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeates, J. W., & Main, D. (2009). Assessment of companion animal quality of life in veterinary practice and research. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 50, 274–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeates, J. W., & Main, D. C. (2010). Commentary: The ethics of influencing clients. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 237, 263–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeates, J. W., & Main, D. C. J. (2011). Veterinary opinions on refusing euthanasia: Justifications and philosophical frameworks. Veterinary Record, 168, 263. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.c6352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Binoy, S. Vettical would like to thank the supervisors, instructors and other staff of Penn Foster College, Arizona, U.S.A. for their support during his CVPM program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Penn Foster College, 14300 N. Northsight Blvd., Suite 125, Scott Dale, AZ, 85260, USA

    Binoy S. Vettical

Authors
  1. Binoy S. Vettical
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Binoy S. Vettical.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vettical, B.S. An Overview on Ethics and Ethical Decision-Making Process in Veterinary Practice. J Agric Environ Ethics 31, 739–749 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-018-9752-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-018-9752-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation