Abstract

Human medicine has recently seen a move away from the paternalistic patient-physician paradigm course to a collaborative one, where “shared decision-making” is a core principle. No longer a passive bystander, where their case management is dictated to them, patients are now encouraged to be proactive in their own clinical course, with the aim of improving patient outcomes. But does this approach work for veterinary patients? Clearly, not the veterinary patient themselves, but can vets use a shared decision-making approach with animal owners and hope for the same clinical benefits? Here, Henry Smith, the co-chair of the EMWA’s Veterinary Special Interest Group (VetSIG), recounts a recent VetSIG meeting where these very questions were posed. Two veterinary academics, Dr Catarina Svensson and Dr Louise Corah, were invited to speak and drew on their own reseach in this field to help provide some answers. Meanwhile, in this edition of “From the Horse’s Mouth”, we report on some bad news for animal welfare but some good news for sustainability in veterinary practice.

Contributors: Henry Smith (author), Louisa Marcombes (section editor)

A health decision shared can be a health problem solved: Time for veterinary medicine to embrace shared decision making?

Medical Writing. 2023;32(2):96-100. https://doi.org/10.56012/jxyr3177