A critique of the veterinary profession from an antispeciesist viewpoint

Abstract

The idea that the veterinary profession has among its aims caring for nonhuman animals along with safeguarding their rights, although shared by a number of people, is totally uninformed. Veterinary profession is basically aimed at controlling the way in which nonhuman animals are used or treated, so human health and other interests are protected. Only some concern for what has been called “animal welfare” is considered, but in a way that does not really take animals’ interests seriously. If we accept an antispeciesist viewpoint, a different approach for veterinary medicine is needed. Such an approach should be focused on animal interests and promote the research for diagnosis and therapeutic methods that benefit them.