Abstract
Background
The ethics of equine sports medicine is a complex subject that is currently understudied. It combines veterinary ethics, sports ethics and associated regulation. Equine sports medicine may raise unique ethical issues and combines common ethical issues in ways distinct from other forms of veterinary medicine.
Objectives
The purpose of this research was to identify and describe ethical issues concerning United Kingdom (UK) veterinary surgeons arising within the practice of equine sports medicine.
Study design
Survey.
Methods
An online questionnaire was distributed to UK veterinary surgeons via veterinary organisations and veterinary social media. Responses to questions were collated and descriptive analysis performed. Open ended responses were analysed thematically.
Results
Ninety-seven respondents completed the questionnaire. The most commonly identified ethical challenges were the conflicts of interest and the pressures faced by the veterinary surgeon. The primary competing interest was balancing the horse's health and welfare with client wishes for the horse to continue in training and competition. Specific ethical challenges were identified; these related to competition integrity, medication control and prohibited substances, treatment evidence and acceptability, among others.
Main limitations
As anticipated with the use of a questionnaire, the responses did not provide in-depth information about an individual veterinary surgeon's experiences, however, it did provide evidence of the extensive range of issues and concerns facing this group. There is also potential for response bias, whereby respondents may have provided answers they perceived were ethically desirable.
Conclusions
This is the first empirical study that explores the ethical issues faced by equine sports medicine veterinary surgeons and has identified wide ranging concerns that demand further study. Areas which may pose reputational risk to equestrian sport, or the veterinary profession were identified. Governing bodies should consider how to improve support for veterinary surgeons facing ethical challenges, as for some, these cause moral distress and may impact retention within the profession.
The ethics of equine sports medicine is a complex subject that is currently understudied. It combines veterinary ethics, sports ethics and associated regulation. Equine sports medicine may raise unique ethical issues and combines common ethical issues in ways distinct from other forms of veterinary medicine.
Objectives
The purpose of this research was to identify and describe ethical issues concerning United Kingdom (UK) veterinary surgeons arising within the practice of equine sports medicine.
Study design
Survey.
Methods
An online questionnaire was distributed to UK veterinary surgeons via veterinary organisations and veterinary social media. Responses to questions were collated and descriptive analysis performed. Open ended responses were analysed thematically.
Results
Ninety-seven respondents completed the questionnaire. The most commonly identified ethical challenges were the conflicts of interest and the pressures faced by the veterinary surgeon. The primary competing interest was balancing the horse's health and welfare with client wishes for the horse to continue in training and competition. Specific ethical challenges were identified; these related to competition integrity, medication control and prohibited substances, treatment evidence and acceptability, among others.
Main limitations
As anticipated with the use of a questionnaire, the responses did not provide in-depth information about an individual veterinary surgeon's experiences, however, it did provide evidence of the extensive range of issues and concerns facing this group. There is also potential for response bias, whereby respondents may have provided answers they perceived were ethically desirable.
Conclusions
This is the first empirical study that explores the ethical issues faced by equine sports medicine veterinary surgeons and has identified wide ranging concerns that demand further study. Areas which may pose reputational risk to equestrian sport, or the veterinary profession were identified. Governing bodies should consider how to improve support for veterinary surgeons facing ethical challenges, as for some, these cause moral distress and may impact retention within the profession.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Equine Veterinary Journal |
| Early online date | 20 Jul 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 20 Jul 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.