The professional, legal and ethical issues in VN: a scenario

The debate regarding the care and treatment of animals is one that can be traced back through the history of our society. It is not surprising that a highly emotive topic such as this can lead to the experience of dilemmas regarding those animals we are charged to care for. As veterinary nursing makes the journey from vocation to profession, society will demand that its members act in a way that is considered honourable in situations where difficult decisions are required regarding the animal's care. This, it is envisaged, will involve the ability to make the ‘right’ decision when faced with these dilemmas. The challenge for veterinary nurses is therefore to develop an understanding of how these decisions can be reached. This article reflects on an incident that occurred in clinical practice in an attempt to understand how the decision-making process in day-to-day practice can be developed. It considers the professional, legal and ethical issues involved in the situation in an attempt to better understand how different viewpoints can affect daily practice.