Identifying veterinary students' capacity for moral behavior concerning animal ethics issues.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Ethics
• Animal Welfare Science
• Moral Psychology in Professional Education

Background:

• Veterinarians encounter significant animal ethics challenges due to evolving societal views and conflicting stakeholder interests, leading to moral distress.
• Existing research has not adequately identified veterinarians' capacity to navigate these complex ethical dilemmas.
• Understanding the ethical development of future veterinarians is crucial for addressing animal protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore moral sensitivity, moral motivation, and moral character among veterinary students.
• To investigate the relationship between these moral components and moral reasoning in veterinary education.
• To assess students' perceptions of the veterinary profession's role in addressing animal ethics.

Main Methods:

• Survey administered to first-year and final-year veterinary students at an Australian university.
• Exploration of moral sensitivity, motivation, character, and reasoning related to animal ethics.
• Inquiry into students' experiences with moral distress and their views on animal protection.

Main Results:

• A majority of students expressed concern for animal ethics and had experienced moral distress regarding animal treatment.
• Most students believed veterinarians should advocate for animal protection and prioritize animal interests over owner interests.
• Students reported limited action taken to address animal ethics issues, despite high moral sensitivity and motivation.

Conclusions:

• First- and final-year veterinary students demonstrate strong ethical awareness and a desire to prioritize animal welfare.
• There is a notable gap between students' ethical attitudes and their practical experience in addressing animal ethics issues.
• Further research is needed to develop educational strategies for assessing and enhancing veterinarians' capacity in ethical practice.