Ethical guiding principles for veterinary behaviour with respect to the welfare and protection of animals

Abstract

Preamble: The veterinary profession regulation describes veterinary surgeons as being the appointed protectors of animals. In accordance with this principle, the "Veterinary Association for the protection of Animals" has put together some guidelines to assist members of the veterinary profession in their work with respect to the welfare and protection of animals. This issue of the "Codex veterinarius" is not a description of the present situation. It is rather meant to be a guide for the future, to be understood as a self-binding commitment. All members of the veterinary profession must, due to their specific knowledge, be committed to improve and enhance the protection of animals. When in doubt they should decide in favour of the animal, which, however, does not imply a higher ranking of animals. Veterinary surgeons should not assist in intensifying the productive use of animals out of purely economical interests, without taking on the ethical responsibility for the animal as a living creature, capable of suffering. The "Veterinary Association for the Protection of Animals" calls upon all veterinary surgeons to adopt the hereby described principles. Principles: Veterinary surgeons have a particular ethical responsibility for animals as living beings able to suffer. Veterinary action for the welfare and protection of animals is guided by the principle of respect for life and the awareness that the animal has a dignity which is to be respected. Therefore protection and care for an animal can not be dependent on its economical value. In situations of diverting interests between moral obligations and economical pressure it is essential to consider carefully the respect for life against the productive use of life in all its forms of existence. The ethical concept of justice for human beings as well as for animals requires that equal entities, according to their equality, are to be valued and treated equally, and unequal entities according to their inequality are to be valued and treated differently (principle of equality). Considering carefully the opposing interests and needs, the interests of the human being should not automatically be considered to be more important than those of the animal. Prior to any interference with the physical and psychological integrity of the animal the veterinary surgeon has to question herself/himself to which extent her/his intervention is morally justified. When in doubt veterinary surgeons should let themselves be guided by the principle: In dubio pro animale!