We’re confident some of you have seen the results of the new Cornell-led study that documents the prevalence of futile care. If not, the article from Cornell is a good place to gain some knowledge. Futile care is defined as continuing treatment when relevant goals can no longer be reached.
The veterinarians’ sense of obligation to pet owners was reflected in the data, with 60 percent of respondents agreeing that every treatment option be presented to owners, 76.3 percent agreeing that futile care benefited owners in some way, and 56.6 percent saying they sympathized with the owners’ feelings and wishes . . . Paradoxically, the owner-centered approach . . . can exacerbate moral distress for veterinarians and care teams.”
Source: Cornell Chronicle, May 31, 2022. Link.
INSIGHTS: There’s little doubt this topic will be an ongoing challenge in the animal health market. Futile care seems less evident in food animal production than companion animal. The challenges of how much for how long has helped improve animal stewardship practices such as low-stress handling and pain management.