Ive been a veterinarian for 6 years, and this kind of stuff continues to break my heart. “When veterinarians are asked to perform unnecessary procedures, including convenience euthanasia, or a client refuses to appropriately treat or euthanize a suffering animal, moral distress can arise.” …”They conducted an online survey evaluating moral distress among 889 North American veterinarians and its impact on their careers. The results showed frequent exposure to ethical dilemmas with around 4 out of 5 veterinarians experiencing conflict with pet owners about how to proceed with a case.”(Mentorvet) “Moral distress is a psychological state of anguish that has been widely studied in healthcare professionals.” (Montoya et al, PubMed) “What is moral injury? “Moral injury refers to the profound psychological and emotional distress experienced when individuals perceive themselves as transgressing their deeply held moral beliefs or witnessing events that contradict their values. In the context of veterinary professionals, moral injury often arises from situations where they are forced to make decisions that compromise animal welfare due to limited resources, ethical dilemmas, or systemic constraints. It can also occur when witnessing or being an indirect party to harmful practices, such as convenience euthanasia or neglect, despite the best intentions. Many of the factors that contribute to moral injury in veterinary medicine are tied to the fundamental economic and legal models that the profession is bound by.”(NOMV) #veterinarian #NOMV #compassion #empathy #love #pets #dog #cat #healthcare