Post #196

How do you communicate with a veterinarian when you come as a client? One of the sensitive topics in animal treatment is the interaction between a client and a veterinarian. There is a lot of frustration heard from a vet about their clients and, of course, a lot of dissatisfaction and accusations from clients about the way a vet treats their furry friends. There are a lot of reasons for this and some are right and some come from misunderstanding the right responsibility of both the client and the vet in charge. The basic thing we have to consider when we are talking about animal treatment is, we both (Client and Vet) are responsible for the health and suffering of animals. It is the collaboration of us that makes the animal healthier and less suffering. We have to be compassionate toward them and give the best life for them as much as we can, but the journey is not easy peasy, there are a lot of mistakes we do with good intention or carelessness. The purpose of this essay is to give a glimpse of what we should know while we are dealing with a veterinarian as a client. I will try to address the right of the client and the responsibilities of a vet during treatment. ⚠️ This is not a must-follow rule, it is a reflection from a last-year DVM student, who read a few articles and had the chance to deal with different clients while he is doing his academic journey at AAU CVMA. Please feel free to correct or give a suggestion if you have any doubt on the essay. There are legal regulations that are "Must do" while treating animals that are established by a national level and also professional ethical codes a veterinarian has to do as an ethical professional. Before any treatment is started there must be a Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) established before a vet can diagnose, treat, or prescribe medication. VCPR requires the veterinarian as a final medical decider, the client's agreement and consent to follow the vet's instruction and the presence and enough knowledge of the vet about the patient's condition. In this relationship you have the following right as a client: · Ask for a quotation and receive clear answers · Receive a clear statement for the cost of the procedure (if the case is not an emergency) · Provide informed consent before treatment · Have your privacy respected (there are some conditions that need reporting) · Expect a professional standard of care for your animal · Access your animal's medical record This right of yours are the responsibilities of a veterinarian in charge; he has the professional, ethical, and legal responsibility to provide a proper standard of care, maintain a safe environment and make medical judgment based on their expertise. Asking for your right is good, differentiating right with collaboration is important. It is always the responsibility of a vet, for a final medical judgment, while informed clients are valuable in treating furry friends, challenging a professional with internet research is overstepping the procedure. It makes the veterinarian spend valuable time debunking misunderstandings instead of discussing a valid treatment plan. You have to know that a veterinarian spent 6 years in vet school to attain the capability of treating and has a lot of consideration before the decision is made. It is better to not establish the VCPR if you have doubt on the skill of the vet than interrupting treatment. There are also some clients that refuse the standard of care and demand alternatives. The vet can't ethically agree to a plan that they know will not work and will allow the animal to suffer. When it comes to euthanasia, there are clients that think they can order a vet to euthanize their pet if they want to do so. But vets have the oath to work for the benefit of animals, and can't just euthanize animals without a valid reason.