Veterinarian in Society

APPLYING BIOETHICS

• To apply bioethical principles to a clinical situation, one first must recognize that a bioethical problem exists. To do this, one must read and discuss the issues and specific situations both to be able to recognize bioethical issues within clinical cases and to formulate plans to handle with them.
• Although veterinarian like to reduce all clinical situations to "medical problems," the ever-more complex medical environment often produces problems that are inexorably intertwined with fundamental bioethical dilemmas. Some are obvious, but many are more subtle and difficult to recognize.
• Many professional organizations have addressed ethical issues by formulating a code of ethics.
• The key to recognizing bioethical issues and applying its principles and virtuous behaviour is to prepare for both their obvious and their subtler presentations. As is done with critical events faced in medicine, one must read, discuss, and think about how to face these issues when they present. This can lead not only to personal preparation but also to more general policies that help guide everyone faced with difficult bioethical issues.