Application of Fraser's "Practical" Ethic in Veterinary Practice, and Its Compatibility with a "One Welfare"...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Ethics
• Animal Welfare Science
• Professional Ethics

Background:

• Ethically challenging situations are prevalent in veterinary practice, potentially leading to moral stress and impacting veterinarian welfare.
• Veterinary students and professionals may find theoretical ethical frameworks difficult to apply in practice.
• Existing ethical frameworks may not adequately prepare veterinarians for the broad impacts of their decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply Fraser's "practical" ethic to common veterinary ethical dilemmas.
• To evaluate the consistency of Fraser's ethic with the One Welfare framework.
• To explore the utility of Fraser's ethic in light of evolving global animal welfare strategies.

Main Methods:

• Application of Fraser's four-principle "practical" ethic to three case studies: animal hoarding, animal neglect, and wildlife treatment.
• Analysis of the alignment between Fraser's ethic and the One Welfare framework.
• Discussion of the strengths and limitations of the framework in veterinary contexts.

Main Results:

• Fraser's "practical" ethic provides a structured approach to complex ethical situations in veterinary medicine.
• The ethic aligns well with the One Welfare framework, emphasizing interconnected human and animal well-being.
• The framework encourages consideration of broader societal impacts of veterinary ethical decisions.

Conclusions:

• Fraser's "practical" ethic offers a valuable tool for veterinarians navigating ethical challenges.
• Integration of this ethic with the One Welfare framework enhances the consideration of multifaceted welfare impacts.
• Further training and support are recommended to improve the practical application of these ethical frameworks by veterinarians.