Ethical question of the month — July 2015

[摘要] You recently joined a mixed animal practice that is an hour outside of a major metropolitan area. Many of the traditional livestock farms in the area are being purchased by suburbanites with significant off-farm income. They often keep a couple of horses or have a small goat herd or sheep flock. Your new employers are struggling to adjust to treating “farm” animals that are more closely tied to the emotional rather than the financial interests of the owners. Recently a horse with colic was seen by your colleague, treated with analgesics and the owners were instructed to walk the horse whenever it showed signs of colic. There has been little improvement over the past two days, the owners call several times a day to express their concerns and the senior partners continue to advise over the phone to keep walking the horse. You suggest it might be wise to refer this horse to a neighboring practice with more equine experience. Your employers are not in the habit of referring cases and are reluctant to invite in a competing practice. The horse is not improving. How should you respond?

[学科分类] 兽医学