Guest contributor – Catherine Haskins of The Bridge Club
Nearly 100 animal health professionals joined for a virtual discussion of the opportunities, challenges and limitations veterinary technicians and the practices for which they work face providing in-home euthanasia for clients’ animals. In a survey conducted by The Bridge Club, 76 percent of the industry is in favor of veterinary technicians expanding their role to include euthanasia, 18 percent are opposed and six percent feel the topic is extremely complicated, citing training as the key concern.
Our vet techs who do in-home palliative care and euthanasia get way more “fan” mail than veterinarians.” – Shea Cox, DVM
Guests Mark Cushing, JD, of the Animal Policy Group; Dani McVety, DVM; Shea Cox, DVM, and Rebecca Rose, RVT, CVT, shared the current legal situations, state proposals, value propositions, implementation guidance and the value for clients respectively.
Click here to watch or listen to the conversation.
Resources for training, certification and licensing of veterinary technicians, as well as regulatory compliance shared included:
- International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care Certification
- AAHA and IAAHPC End of Life Guidelines
- Role of Veterinary Technicians by State
Source: The Bridge Club. Link.
INSIGHTS: Currently fewer than 15 states allow veterinary technicians to perform in-home euthanasia under the umbrella of veterinarian supervision. As more states follow, this opportunity for veterinary technicians and practices may be a critical step in helping empower the professional status of technicians.
Rose and McVety indicated expanding the role of technicians in this area will take time. They encourage veterinary technicians to speak to their local and national associations to advocate for a veterinary technician role in at-home palliative care.