Informed Consent for the Vegan Client
Eve Nguyen | Naturopath , Counsellor , Life Coach , BHSc Nat ., GradDipPsych ., Dip . Couns .
In recent years there has been discussion of informed consent in health care . One group of clients who expressly seek informed consent is vegans . Vegans refrain from eating animal products and by-products , including meat ( red and white ), seafood ( including fish and isinglass found in various alcoholic products ), eggs , dairy ( including colostrum , whey , ghee etc .), gelatine , insects and insect by-products , and in many cases products that come from bees , including honey and royal jelly etc . The motivations for following such a diet and lifestyle are multifactorial and a vegan individual often has multiple and interlinked motivations . 1 These can include health reasons . Evidence-based research outlines health benefits of a whole food plant-based ( WFPB ) diet in various chronic and acute conditions such as auto-immunity , 2 heart disease , 3 cancer prevention , 4 type 2 diabetes 5 and others that are outlined by the Australian educational group Doctors For Nutrition . 6
Another significant motivator is environmental protection . Recent research incorporating extensive factors states that up to 87 % of global emissions can be attributed to livestock production , and that earlier numbers have been grossly under-reported . 7 Other reasons include religious motivations , with a multitude of various specifically vegan religious and interfaith groups in existence . 8 On a spiritually / metaphysical level , various cultures , particularly indigenous groups , have acknowledged interspecies communication ( intuitive exchanges between humans and animals ). 9 The Vegan Animal Communicator Network Journal outlines insights by interspecies communicators that show that animals do not wish to be consumed by humans . 10
From a psychological viewpoint , veganism is an existential theme for many who choose a plant-based diet and lifestyle . 11 It is also seen through a lens of empowerment in many ways , such as avoiding cognitive dissonance , worker injustice , pharmaceutical savings , etc . 2 Researchers have found that vegans have more knowledge on environmental , animal-related and health issues than do vegetarians . 1 They have been found to spend more time acquiring information about diet and animal-related issues , and frequently rely on reputable sources for their knowledge . 13
Being aware of these motivations will assist practitioners to more accurately assess whether supplements will be perceived as vegan-friendly by vegans . Awareness of and respect for these values can especially affect the client-patient relationship , as well as compliance with recommended treatments . It is important to be honest and transparent with vegans about ingredients and their origins to satisfy informed consent . The following are some real-life examples featuring vegan clients , conversations , and outcomes . They contain situations that you might also experience .
Scenario 1 : Client is in a health food store speaking with a naturopath . The naturopath recommends a certain product . The client / customer asks , “ Is it vegan ?” The naturopath says yes . The client takes some time to read the label , which indicates that it isn ’ t vegan , and brings this to the naturopath ’ s attention .
Solution for similar situations : Take time to read the label and verify if it gives clues as to whether the product is vegan . If you are unsure , you could say to the client , “ I ’ m not sure , please give me a moment to read the label , and I can also contact the company to verify if needed .” This is a transparent response which also helps to build trust with the client .
Scenario 2 : Some testing is recommended to the client . The client has been asked to ingest lactulose , and asks if the test is vegan . The practitioner contacts the company and receives the following response : “ While lactulose is derived from lactose , which is obtained from
16 | vol31 | no1 | JATMS