Ethicists’ commentary on provision of emergency services with a shortage of staff
Ethical question of the month, September 2022
Canada is facing a serious shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Recently, small animal emergency clinics have started closing overnight and weekends in some areas as they cannot find staff. In remote locations, the only urgent care for small animals can be several hours away, with long wait times. Until as recently as 10 y ago, most small animal clinics outside of major centers provided emergency treatment evenings and weekends. Virtually all large animal practices continue to provide these services, as there is no other option.
Perhaps it is valid to ask: “When did small animal veterinary medicine become a 9:00 to 5:00 job?” Given that veterinary personnel shortages are expected to be long-term, should veterinary admissions teams be asking candidates if they are prepared to provide emergency care for their patients? In the midst of the shortage, are small animal veterinarians ethically bound to provide emergency care?
Clare Palmer, Peter Sandøe, & Dan Weary comment on this dilemma and you can read it here: Ethicists’ commentary on provision of emergency services with a shortage of staff (pdf)