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LEARNING IN PRACTICE
Members of the veterinary profession have a responsibility to uphold standards to ensure the public has access to safe,
quality veterinary care. When those standards are compromised, the College responds. Every veterinarian can learn from
these situations and publishing the details of complaints received and resolved is intended to support that learning. The
example below is taken from an actual case and is offered as a self-reflection tool to improve practice across the province.
CONSENT MUST BE INFORMED AND DOCUMENTED
BRIEF SUMMARY
The client took her dog to an emergency
clinic for treatment of a severely swollen
hind leg. The previous day, the client had
been referred to a specialist at the same
facility. The specialist had performed several
diagnostic tests but no definitive diagnosis
was made. The dog’s condition continued to
deteriorate despite treatment.
The dog was examined and admitted for
further observation and intravenous (IV) fluid
therapy. Overnight, the dog had a seizure and
his neurological status deteriorated.
The member took over the dog’s case
following a shift change. The admitting
veterinarian and the member suggested the
dog be referred to a neurologist. However,
due to a possible poor prognosis, the client
wanted to come in to the clinic to see the dog
and make a decision. Later that morning, the
member called the client to inform her the
dog had suffered cardiopulmonary arrest.
When the client arrived at the clinic, she was
surprised the dog had been euthanized.
REASONING
Informed consent for euthanasia must be
clearly documented and, if obtained over the
phone, it is prudent to have a second person
confirm the consent. In addition, in the event
that a pet dies unexpectedly, the veterinarian
has an obligation to inform the owner of the
availability of an independent autopsy.
In this situation, the member indicated
she called the client while the veterinary
technicians performed cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) on the dog. The client
was given the option of continuing CPR
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or euthanizing the dog. The client asked
if euthanasia could be delayed until she
arrived, but was told the dog would not
survive the wait. The member asked again
about euthanasia and the client said “go
ahead, we are on our way.” The technicians
stopped CPR and the dog was euthanized.
The medical records noted the phone
conversation and that the client gave
permission for euthanasia over the phone.
Upon arrival, the client asked the member
why she performed euthanasia if the dog was
arresting. The member said it quickens the
animal’s passing so the pet does not suffer.
The client said that none of the veterinarians
she spoke to used the word “euthanasia”. The
client said she told the member to “let him
go” but never said to euthanize the dog.
The member had written “authorized over
the phone” on the euthanasia consent form
but a second person did not confirm the
authorization and the client did not see or
sign the form.
The panel agreed in some cases an arresting
animal may experience changes that prevent
a peaceful and pain-free death. Hastening a
pet’s death by euthanasia to prevent suffering
is acceptable and ethical.
The medical record indicated the client
consented to an autopsy if time permitted.
Due to time constraints, an autopsy was
not performed. When a patient has died
unexpectedly, the client must be promptly
informed about the availability of an autopsy
through an independent veterinarian. At the
client’s request, the attending veterinarian or
their associate may perform the autopsy.
Key Considerations
Guidelines on Veterinary
Euthanasia
www.cvo.org/euthanasia
The CVO Guidelines on Veterinary
Euthanasia state the following:
“It is best to obtain written informed
owner consent at all times. For
expediency in some situations, oral
consent might be an appropriate
course of action; this consent should
be documented in the medical
record. If oral consent is obtained
over the telephone, it would be
prudent to have it witnessed by a
second person who asks it to be
repeated to him/her and makes note
of it in the medical record.”
Sample Euthanasia consent
form
A sample Owner Consent and
Request to Perform Euthanasia form
is available in the College Guidelines
Veterinary Euthanasia.
Ontario Regulations 1093
One of the requirements of the
legislation is that the client is offered
an autopsy from an independent
veterinarian in situations where the
animal dies unexpectedly or from an
anesthetic.