Oregon and Washington Science Network
Is it ethical?
I recently was presented with a case that I treated as I would have normally. At a dinner party someone asked how my day was, I replied with the following case and they said that it is unethical to have done what I did .....what are your thoughts?
Long story short: 14 yr old dog comes in with distended abdomen and pale mucus membranes. I tap the belly and it is frank blood. I go to surgery and find cancer that is causing bleeding into the abdomen. It has spread to the organs but only visible on surface. The surgery is going really well, bleeding is controled and I removed the cancer. This surgery will only buy the client 1wk - 1mo before quality of life becomes poor. But it is my opinion that this time is important and helps very much in the overall process of pet loss. It is indeed selfish...for the client in some respect but if that is how they want to cope, and it is how I would like to cope when the time comes, then I believe it isn't selfish. The dinner party guest was very unhappy with that point of view and said that we should have euthanized on the operating table.....opinions?
Long story short: 14 yr old dog comes in with distended abdomen and pale mucus membranes. I tap the belly and it is frank blood. I go to surgery and find cancer that is causing bleeding into the abdomen. It has spread to the organs but only visible on surface. The surgery is going really well, bleeding is controled and I removed the cancer. This surgery will only buy the client 1wk - 1mo before quality of life becomes poor. But it is my opinion that this time is important and helps very much in the overall process of pet loss. It is indeed selfish...for the client in some respect but if that is how they want to cope, and it is how I would like to cope when the time comes, then I believe it isn't selfish. The dinner party guest was very unhappy with that point of view and said that we should have euthanized on the operating table.....opinions?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Roberta Porter on -
Totally up to the owner, in my opinion. If the dog is comfortable after the sx, then no ethical issue. I would have no problem doing exactly what you did.
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Permalink Reply by Erika Cartwright on -
It is important to rememder that at no time is it our decision to decide when an owner should or shouldn't euthanize. It is our job to give a client all of the information so that they can make a decision that is right for their family. I think that every situation is unique and it is no can pass judgement. I think that a response to be made is in regards to the large number of animals to be euthanized around the holidays because their pets are old, owners are going out of town for the holiday, company is comming, etc..... At times some of these reasons are convenient and a number of these pets have some good time left, but who are we to judge?
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Permalink Reply by Rhonda Reaves on -
I have learned that when there is an ethical issue at hand there is never a truly right answer. Now, people who feel strongly one way or another may think they have the only correct answer, but if that were the case it wouldn't be an ethical question. I think, yes, the animal may have been saved the sufferring of recovering from surgery and dealing with the disease again down the road had you euthanized him on the table. However, if pain control is adequate and the animal could be made comfortable the benefit for the owner of the ability to say good bye is imeasurable. I'm sure you consulted with them as to what their wishes were and ultimatly it's their decision anyway. This could easily go either way and, while I may have euthanasia without even taking the animal to surgery given it's age and signs, I don't think either of us would be wrong. That's my story and I'm sticking to it :)
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Permalink Reply by Gavin Peck on -
I'm with Erika on this one; it's not up to veterinarians to decide for the owner. We have the right to refuse to perform a procedure that we feel is not in the animal's best interest, but at no time should we pressure or coerce owners into something. We must simply present them with all the facts and leave the decision in their hands.
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Permalink Reply by Craig on -
I think it would be different if you had said they the owner was considering euthanasia, and you recommended removal of the mass. All you did is buy the owner enough time to be able to make a rational, informed decision on euthanasia. I think that if we look at how human medicine is done regarding euthanasia/suicide, it would be difficult for anyone to critique your actions. People are in most cases forced to live out every last grueling, painful hour. With animals in most cases we decide to euthanize for so many reasons: money, inability to control pain, reduced quality of life, reduced ability to perform. I don't like when I see an animal that has been put through many procedures only to gain a week or month more of life, but I cannot criticize the owner for that. It is their choice. If it was a person, they would probably end up going through at least as much.
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Permalink Reply by Lincoln Builds on -
I guess it depends if the owners had that much disposable income. If they were strapped for cash, then I think it is wasteful.
Lincoln B
Hsa
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