Citation

Author Website

http://sydney.edu.au/vetscience/about/staff/profiles/anne.fawcett.php

Commentary Type

Invited Commentary

Thread

Martine Lachance, Breaking the silence: The veterinarian’s duty to report

Abstract

The question of whether reporting animal abuse should be mandatory for veterinarians is an important one. Veterinarians have dual obligations, both to their animal patients and to their human clients. Mandatory reporting can only be supported in a context in which veterinary professionals are (a) trained to recognise the signs of animal abuse; (b) trained to elicit a history sensitively from clients who may themselves be victims of abuse or supported in doing so; (c) supported by appropriate, responsive authorities; (d) reasonably protected from legal recriminations.

Author Biography

Anne Fawcett anne.fawcett@sydney.edu.au is a lecturer in veterinary science studying animal welfare through the Australia and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists co-authoring a book on veterinary ethics with Dr Siobhan Mullan from Bristol University (to be published by Nottingham University Press in 2016). http://sydney.edu.au/vetscience/about/staff/profiles/anne.fawcett.php

DOI

10.51291/2377-7478.1082