Ethicists’ commentary on considerations when judging whether to formally report a colleague’s potential misconduct

Ethical question of the month, December 2023

A veterinarian in our area has developed a reputation for significant errors that individually might be forgiven, but as they multiply, start to form a pattern. The range of concerns includes patients with mandibular fractures secondary to attempted extraction of lower canines; patients with undiagnosed masses untreated until the owners seek a second opinion, by which time the problem is aggravated; and dispensing of medications without an examination and/or without full understanding of potential deleterious effects of the medication on other factors, such as pregnancy. The veterinarian is very personable and charismatic, and the affected owners are convinced that these are onetime mistakes. To my knowledge, there has only been 1 formal complaint to a regulatory body. I am very reluctant to report a local colleague’s questionable practices, but each time an animal is adversely affected, it becomes more frustrating. Attempts at direct communication have not been helpful. At what point am I obligated to make a complaint? How do I balance my responsibility to be a reasonable professional colleague with my obligation to protect patients and the profession?

Clare Palmer, Peter Sandøe, & Dan Weary comment on this dilemma and you can read it here: Ethicists’ commentary on considerations when judging whether to formally report a colleague’s potential misconduct (pdf)