Ethicists’ commentary on medical and professional challenges arising from inconsistent treatment policies within a clinic

Ethical question of the month, November 2023

You are a recent graduate working in a small animal hospital with a longtime veterinary owner and a loyal clientele. You are presented with a small dog that has a history of frequent bowel movements with small amounts of frank blood evident. The dog appears otherwise healthy, so you recommend fasting and a bland diet for a presumed case of stress colitis. The next day, the client returns to the hospital and asks to have the dog examined by the senior veterinarian as she is dissatisfied with your treatment. The senior veterinarian prescribes antibiotics (which satisfies the pet owner) and explains to you that the owner feels better if she is “giving something” to treat the dog. You feel that this both is inappropriate medically and undermines your credibility. How do you approach this with your employer? When you encounter the client again, how do you navigate a conversation about the case that defends your approach without undermining your colleague?

Clare Palmer, Peter Sandøe, & Dan Weary comment on this dilemma and you can read it here: Ethicists’ commentary on medical and professional challenges arising from inconsistent treatment policies within a clinic (pdf)