Ethicists’ commentary on navigating options when clients refuse care due to cost
Ethical question of the month, May 2023
You provide ambulatory veterinary services for pets. You are contacted by the local animal welfare enforcement agency to perform an at-home euthanasia of a dog that was recently seen at an emergency clinic with dysuria. On arrival, you are greeted by a seemingly normal, happy dog. The owner has very limited funds and no option of obtaining credit. The owner was quoted a cost of over $1000 for diagnostics for the dysuria work-up, which she did not have, so she left with the dog. The emergency clinic staff was concerned enough to report the owner to the animal welfare agency. You are not comfortable euthanizing a seemingly normal animal, so you obtain permission to fund a radiograph of the bladder. The dog has bladder stones that are inoperable due to costs, so you do euthanize the dog. Is it ethically sound to release an animal without care due to costs, but then report the owner to a welfare agency?
Clare Palmer, Peter Sandøe, & Dan Weary comment on this dilemma and you can read it here: Ethicists’ commentary on navigating options when clients refuse care due to cost (pdf)