Using electronic health records to explore negotiations around euthanasia decision making for dogs and cats in the UK



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-.

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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
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