Ethics in production animal practice 2023.ppt

Ethics in production animal practice Dorothy McKeegan [email protected] George King Intended learning outcomes • Year ILOs – Discuss the ethical considerations and legal responsibilities which underpin veterinary professional judgement (CP3035) – Judge courses of action against curre...

Ethics in production animal practice Dorothy McKeegan [email protected] George King Intended learning outcomes • Year ILOs – Discuss the ethical considerations and legal responsibilities which underpin veterinary professional judgement (CP3035) – Judge courses of action against current guidelines and legislative frameworks to ensure safe working practices and protect personnel. (CP3039) – Recognise factors; individual, organisational, client and financial considerations that impact on veterinary practice in a business context as they apply to Year 3 topics (CP3040) • Content ILOs – Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical issues that may underpin decision making – Demonstrate ethical decision making approaches and their application utilizing realistic case studies – Be able to discuss and consider the views of relevant stakeholders in ethical dilemmas relevant to production animals The ethical backdrop • Are farmers ‘in charge’? Should we weight their interests more heavily than other animal owners since they depend on the animals for their livelihood? • Interactions with vet are more transactional and professional • Farmers usually have other options for action compared to pet owners (e.g. euthanasia) • Vets may become inured to economic constraints and may feel there is little they can do to advance welfare in the face of harsh economic realities • Moral tension of being able to heal/prevent but not allowed to do so • Breach of law/regulation (or professional code) is usually the main recourse when welfare is severely compromised • Local farming ‘culture’ may influence farmer behaviour How do you view your role as a vet? Garage mechanic model • Owner decides ‘his animal, his decision’ –Client autonomy • Do as you are asked within the law and professional boundaries and charge for your services Paediatrician model • Vet decides (with input from owner) – Animal akin to nonconsenting, non-verbal but ethically relevant child • Reject requests which are not in the animal’s interests • Joint decision making – owner has legal power • Communication, education Ethical decision making • Prepare (think about it in advance) • Describe the options genuinely available • Identify factual influences • Identify ethical influences – (Apply any relevant ethical rules/principles) – Who’s interests do they represent? • Weight the influences – Who’s interests are strongest? • Identify the best option • Satisfy prerequisites • Act • Reflect on the decision and outcomes • Prepare for next time Ethical decision making • Prepare (think about it in advance) • Describe the options genuinely available • Identify factual influences • Identify ethical influences – (Apply any relevant ethical rules/principles) – Who’s interests do they represent? • Weight the influences – Who’s interests are strongest? • Identify the best option • Satisfy prerequisites • Act • Reflect on the decision and outcomes • Prepare for next time We will work through 3 scenarios • • • • • • Present scenario Group effort to generate list of options Group effort to identify influences Check RCVS/legal advice Poll for option chosen Round up comments Dilemma 1 – Lame cow A 7 year old dairy cow is due to go to slaughter as a cull cow. You have been called to the farm and asked to declare whether the cow is fit for transport. It has a severe sole ulcer on its right hind leg. The cow has a mobility score of 3 on the DairyCo scale, and is consistently toe touching at rest. She can walk with difficulty. The abattoir is approximately two hours drive away. The farmer is very keen that the cow should go and he is an important client for the practice with a large 600 head milking herd. You are concerned about the welfare of the cow during transport and potential illegality but also worried about her fate if she stays on the farm. What should you do? Fitness to travel (EC 1/2005) 2. Animals that are injured or that present physiological weaknesses or pathological processes shall not be considered fit for transport and in particular if: – (a) they are unable to move independently without pain or to walk unassisted; – (b) they present a severe open wound, or prolapse; – (c) they are pregnant females for whom 90 % or more of the expected gestation period has already passed, or females who have given birth in the previous week; – (d) they are new-born mammals in which the navel has not completely healed; – (e) they are pigs of less than three weeks, lambs of less than one week and calves of less than ten days of age, unless they are transported less than 100 km; – (f) they are dogs and cats of less than eight weeks of age, unless they are accompanied by their mother; – (g) they are cervine animals in velvet. Fitness to travel (EC 1/2005) 3. However, sick or injured animals may be considered fit for transport if they are: – (a) slightly injured or ill and transport would not cause additional suffering; in cases of doubt, veterinary advice shall be sought; – (b) transported for the purposes of Council Directive 86/609/EEC if the illness or injury is part of a research programme; – (c) transported under veterinary supervision for or following veterinary treatment or diagnosis. However, such transport shall be permitted only where no unnecessary suffering or ill treatment is caused to the animals concerned; – (d) animals that have been submitted to veterinary procedures in relation to farming practices such as dehorning or castration, provided that wounds have completely healed. Dilemma 2 – Equine flu booster A important dairy client phones to ask you to bring out an equine flu booster vaccine on your upcoming visit. After the routine herd fertility work, you look for the client's wife who is with an eight-year-old pony. This is the first time you have seen the pony, although your colleagues have seen it before and one vetted it before purchase two years ago. She explains that her teenage daughter, who has a significant disability, has been riding at local pony club events. Recently, she been invited to take part in the pony club summer camp. You check the passport and find everything in order, except that the flu cover is outof-date by two days. The pony will have to recommence the vaccination course and the earliest date it will be eligible to compete is in four weeks’ time. The mother is extremely upset and blames the practice. She suggests you have two options: either vaccinate the pony today and fill in the form certifying it was vaccinated two days ago, or leave the farm immediately. If you choose the last option she will find a more ‘compassionate and understanding’ vet who will do what she requires. As the daughter's condition may affect lifespan, the mother states that her daughter's quality of life is a greater moral good than any negligible risk of equine flu that a two day out-of-date booster represents. What should you do? Dilemma 3 – Illegal bull castration You have been working at a mixed practice in a rural area for 6 months. You become aware that your colleagues are routinely carrying out surgical bull castrations at 12 months of age without local anaesthetic. You know that it is illegal to castrate calves which have reached two months of age without the use of an anaesthetic. You ask why this practice continues and are told by the senior partner that it is quicker, easier and safer to castrate without local anaesthetic and it keeps the farmers happy because its saves money and time. Plus, the chances of getting caught are very small. You are worried that you will be asked to carry out this procedure. What should you do? Relevant legislation Under the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954, as amended, it is an offence to castrate calves which have reached two months of age without the use of an anaesthetic. Furthermore, the use of a rubber ring, or other device, to restrict the flow of blood to the scrotum, is only permitted without an anaesthetic if the device is applied during the first week of life. Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, as amended, only a veterinary surgeon may castrate a calf which has reached the age of two months. Code of recommendation: Stock-keepers should consider carefully whether castration is necessary. If it is necessary, there are three methods which can be used to castrate calves: •a rubber ring or other device, which can only be used in the first seven days of life, by a trained and competent stock-keeper, to restrict the flow of blood to the scrotum; •bloodless castration, by a trained and competent stock-keeper, by crushing the spermatic cords of calves less than 2 months old, with a burdizzo; •castration by a veterinary surgeon, using an anaesthetic. Other sources of dilemmas… • Substandard husbandry despite repeated advice • Leaving animals untreated for economic reasons • Non-uptake of effective preventative measures for economic reasons