Presenting care options to clients
Recent complaints to Vetboard Victoria have outlined events in which veterinary practitioners presented a range of care options to clients without explaining the risks of those options, or presented several options to
clients as if each were equally appropriate.
These included:
- In addition to suggesting immediate treatment or referral to an emergency and critical care centre, a vet proposed observing an animal overnight, and the client opted for this without understanding the risks of that choice.
- Among other options, a vet proposed sedating an animal for transport and/or treatment purposes without clearly explaining the requirements and risks. The client chose sedation, and the animal subsequently developed complications.
- An animal was disabled to such an extent that ongoing care was likely to prolong suffering, making euthanasia the more appropriate option, yet the vet also presented diagnostics and alternative treatments (including surgery) as
options, with the client deciding against euthanasia.
Failing to explain options and associated risks may result in clients opting for action (or inaction) that leads to adverse outcomes for their animals or themselves financially.
It is generally accepted that you and your client may consider multiple options for diagnosis and treatment – from more conservative and less expensive approaches to intensive and (usually) more expensive diagnostics and treatment.
Where there is a range of care options, you should be clear about what you believe is the best option for the animal’s health and wellbeing. While your client generally decides the plan for the animal, it is you who must advise them of:
- the advantages, risks, and most likely outcome for each option
- whether additional testing or treatment might be needed
- the costs associated with each option.
You should also only present care options if they are appropriate in the circumstances.
How you present various care options is important. Your client may be feeling uncertain and distressed. They may be facing the prospect of losing their animal and may want to try anything to avoid that outcome, but your responsibility is to understand and navigate the context (e.g. the owners ability to provide ongoing care including financially), advise the client of the most probable prognosis, cover the risks associated with care options, and recommend the best option for the animal.
You may need to emphasise your views more strongly or repeat certain information so you can be sure your client understands which care option you think is more appropriate in the context.