Gray, Carol ORCID: 0000-0002-1800-4574 and Radford, Alan ORCID: 0000-0002-4590-1334
(2022)
Using electronic health records to explore negotiations around euthanasia decision making for dogs and cats in the UK.
VETERINARY RECORD, 190 (9).
e1379-.
Text
Veterinary Record - 2022 - Gray - Using electronic health records to explore negotiations around euthanasia decision making.pdf - Published version Download (164kB) | Preview |
Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>End-of-life decision making for animals happens daily in veterinary practice. However, access to such discussions as they happen is difficult, in view of the highly emotional circumstances of end-of-life consultations. Despite the expanding literature on euthanasia, few studies have explored the circumstances of euthanasia disagreement or delay.<h4>Methods</h4>To explore euthanasia discussions in veterinary practice, consultations recorded in electronic health records in a UK veterinary surveillance database (SAVSNET) were examined. From a sample of 2000 identified consultations, 69 canine and 76 feline consultations were purposively sampled for detailed thematic analysis. Specifically, consultations were selected if they involved a decision to delay euthanasia, including disagreement about the timing of euthanasia.<h4>Results</h4>Reasons identified for euthanasia refusal or delay included client-related factors (e.g., allowing other family members to say goodbye, differing opinions on the quality of life) and veterinary surgeon-related factors (eg, the wish to carry out further investigations or to try a new treatment). In the instance of refusal or delay, palliative treatment was commonly provided to preserve animal welfare.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study illustrates some of the processes used to negotiate end-of-life decision making in dogs and cats. Its findings shed light on the importance of palliative care in providing owners with time to decide.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | Animals, Dogs, Cats, Cat Diseases, Dog Diseases, Death, Euthanasia, Euthanasia, Animal, Negotiating, Decision Making, Quality of Life, Electronic Health Records, United Kingdom |
Divisions: | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Law and Social Justice |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
Date Deposited: | 10 Feb 2022 10:11 |
Last Modified: | 18 Jan 2023 21:12 |
DOI: | 10.1002/vetr.1379 |
Related URLs: | |
URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3148684 |