Comments on the dilemma in the January issue: 'Dealing with dark desires'

The dilemma in the January issue concerned a vet who was woken in the middle of the night to treat a cat that had been involved in a road traffic accident. It dealt with the question of whether it was wrong for the vet to have secretly hoped that the cat might die before reaching the surgery, in order to get some rest (In Practice, January 2014, volume 36, pages 54-55). Andrew Knight argued that, on the face of it, such thoughts seemed reprehensible; however, he also noted that vets were only human and worked within a profession with unusually high rates of suicide and mental disorders, and that these were exacerbated by burnout, exhaustion and stress. He emphasised that vets have a primary duty to their patients and that, above all, such thoughts should not be allowed to impact on the care provided. Stress and burnout could result in suboptimal performance and, in order to best care for their pets, vets should not neglect to look after themselves as well.