AN ETHICAL DILEMMA
UNCLAIMED ANIMALS LEFT AT A VETERINARY PRACTICE
The Practice Advisory Service receives questions about animals left at veterinary hospitals or clinics and unclaimed by the client . The following scenario helps you understand your responsibilities and legal requirements .
Scenario : An animal was admitted for treatment and the client left . After the treatment , the client can ’ t be reached . The authorized representative on file is also not responding . Three days have passed since the treatment was completed . What should the veterinarian do ?
In accordance with Ontario Regulation 1093 , where an animal is unclaimed by the client , transfer of an animal to an animal shelter or to a third-party owner can only occur if at least 10 days have passed since the completion of the treatment , convalescence , or ancillary service . The client must agree in writing to the transfer ; or if the veterinarian cannot reach the client , the following steps must be followed before transferring the animal :
– attempt to contact the client on at least five occasions and by at least two different methods ;
– make at least one attempt to contact the patient ’ s emergency contact person ; and
– make a written record of the contact attempts and methods .
Action : The veterinarian provides necessary care and housing to the animal while attempting to contact the client . If they do not reach the client , they will transfer the animal after 10 days have passed since treatment .
When admitting an animal to hospital in the future , the veterinarian will ask for written client consent to transfer the animal if unclaimed after 10 days ..
During the 10-day period , the animal develops clinical signs requiring care .
Where contact attempts are unsuccessful , the veterinarian should only treat the animal to prevent suffering and / or significant harm . When the emergency is addressed , the client should be contacted to explain what occurred , discuss treatment and obtain consent as required . Where the health and well-being of the animal are not at risk , a veterinarian should not proceed until consent is provided .
The veterinarian determines the health and well-being of the animal are at risk . They perform further diagnostics and conclude that surgery is necessary .
In an emergency , a veterinarian may treat an animal to prevent suffering or significant harm . If the client or anyone on the client ’ s behalf is not available to consent to surgery , the regulations require the veterinarian document this in the record and the reason why it was medically advisable to perform surgery .
Action : The veterinarian performs surgery to prevent suffering and significant harm and documents accordingly in the record as per regulation .
After surgery , the animal ’ s condition worsens . The veterinarian believes further treatment to prolong the animal ’ s life would result in undue suffering for the animal and euthanasia is the most humane course of action . What should they do ?
The Provincial Animal Welfare Services ( PAWS ) Act authorizes a veterinarian to euthanize an animal without having to seek consent in specific circumstances . The criteria to assess this authority includes :
1 . The animal is suffering ;
2 . The animal ’ s owner or custodian cannot be found promptly , or the veterinarian reasonably believes that
a . The animal does not have an owner or custodian , or
b . The animal has been abandoned by the owner or custodian , and
c . Euthanasia is the most humane course of action ( where immediate treatment cannot prolong the animal ’ s life or prolonging the animal ’ s life would result in undue suffering for the animal ).
Action : The veterinarian believes the criteria to assess their authority to euthanize the animal without consent has been met . All attempts to contact the client and their authorized representative have been made and documented .
Under the authority of the PAWS Act , the veterinarian euthanizes the animal . All decisions related to the animal ’ s care are documented in the record .
Summary :
An unclaimed animal can cause an ethical dilemma . The goal is to reunite the client with their animal and protect the animal ’ s health and welfare during the 10-day holding period . When an animal is admitted into hospital , veterinarians are encouraged to obtain written client consent to transfer the animal if the animal is unclaimed after at least 10 days have passed since the completion of the treatment , convalescence , or ancillary service .
References :
Guide to the PPS : Informed Client Consent
PAWS Act
Professional Practice Standard : Veterinary Euthanasia
Guide to the PPS : Veterinary Euthanasia Ontario Regulation 1093
4 College Connection Winter 2021 cvo . org