Ethics are the standards and practices that tell us how human beings should act in the many situations in which they find themselves. Ethical decision-making is not based solely on feelings, religion, law, accepted social practice, or science.
How to Frame Ethical Decisions
Six different lenses can help a person frame ethical decisions:
- Rights, which suggest an ethical action is one that best protects and respects the moral rights of those affected.
- Justice, which is the idea that each person should receive fair or equal treatment, with the understanding that equal does not necessarily mean everyone should be treated the same way in every respect.
- Utilitarianism, a results-based approach, indicates the ethical action is the one that produces the greatest balance of good over harm for as many stakeholders as possible.
- Common good, which suggests the interlocking relationships of society are the basis of ethical reasoning and that others require respect and compassion.
- Virtue, which asks the question, “What kind of person will I become if I do this?” or “Is this action consistent with my acting at my best?”
- Care, which maintains that options for resolution must account for the relationships, concerns, and feelings of all stakeholders.
Ethical Dilemmas in Equine Veterinary Practice
Veterinarians frequently face ethical dilemmas, and the ability to consider welfare and ethical issues is essential to good clinical practice. Using ethical frameworks for decision-making and client communication can support social license to operate and improve retention of early-career equine veterinarians, many of whom experience moral distress in practice. Research shows that incidents of moral distress are cumulative and lead to negative mental health and burnout.
Modeling Ethical Behavior
Practice leaders, whether owners or mentors, play key roles in diffusing moral distress because leaders model the way. Younger veterinarians frequently look to their more experienced colleagues for direction navigating tricky ethical situations, but in some cases their colleagues’ behavior is the source of ethical concern. Is a new associate being asked to perform routine “maintenance” joint injections at a trainer’s request or are they seeing this as a common practice by their mentor? Does an early-career veterinarian witness cases that might benefit from referral to a specialist, but the client is not offered that option? Do they perceive this as being a way to keep revenue within the practice rather than flowing to a different practitioner? Are bottles of injectable sedatives routinely dispensed from the practice at a trainer’s request? Are clients referred to unlicensed dentistry providers for work that is clearly veterinary in nature? In these scenarios, it is not surprising that early-career equine practitioners become deflated and cynical about their chosen career. Modeling ethical behavior and decision-making as practice policy makes such a positive difference.
Final Thoughts
Practices must balance different opinions about ethical decisions by recognizing the potential for moral distress and offering an off-ramp for professionals to opt out of situations that conflict with their values. Mentors can help mentees by suggesting they use a framework for ethical decision-making. This framework begins by identifying the ethical issue and gathering the relevant facts, stakeholders, and possible courses of action. Each alternative is then evaluated using the six lenses, leading to a decision about how to proceed. Working through the dilemma in this structured way often provides greater clarity and confidence when making a difficult decision.
Related Reading
- Performance Horse Ethics for Early-Career Veterinarians
- Managing Moral Distress in Equine Veterinary Practice
- Ethics of Emergency Care in Equine Practice
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