Euthanasia of companion animals in the light of bioethics: study carried out at the veterinary hospital of the University of Brasilia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1344/rbd2024.61.42774Keywords:
bioethics, decision making, euthanasia, human-animal bond, petsAbstract
The word “euthanasia” means death without pain or suffering. The present study aimed to describe the number of procedures and the main causes related to the euthanasia of pets performed at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (HVet) of the city of Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil. The qualitative method was used and the type of study was descriptive and exploratory. The research data was collected from animal access protocols at HVet in July 2021, but covered procedures performed between 2013 and 2020. After analyzing the information collected, the main causes identified in the 51 HVet service protocols for decision-making, regarding euthanasia, were the following: follows: ending the animal's suffering, 48 (94.11%); unfavorable prognosis, 30 (58.82%); and economically unfeasible treatment, 5 (9.80%). With these results, it seems that the owners indicated more than one alternative to perform the procedure on their animal. The evidence produced points to gaps in knowledge about the decision-making process regarding euthanasia in pets; In addition, they point out the need to deepen the study on the subject and also on the preparation to face this procedure by veterinarians and guardians. It is suggested that, in the ethical context, the acceptance of bioethics, in its dialogic and multidisciplinary nature, presents predicates that enable collective deliberation to mitigate the vulnerabilities of animals, those responsible, and the medical team.
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