I don’t know how CAETA continues to come up with so many brilliant ideas! They’re so appropriate for the reform of companion animal euthanasia. This one, a hypothetical euthanasia case described in a blog post, is intended to help those who perform euthanasia improve their protocol and technique. After I read it, I told Dr. Kathleen, of CAETA, that I thought it would be almost as valuable for euthanasia clients! It describes some of the many signs that a euthanasia could be headed for trouble and result in unnecessary additional trauma for both client and patient...and perhaps for the practitioner as well. It may allow you to be prepared, as either client or witness, to know when to pause and redirect the process. Never hesitate to do so! You may prevent a nightmarish euthanasia from occurring! They can have lifelong consequences, especially if they occur in one’s home because you’ll be living in close proximity to reminders.
If you’ve witnessed a dysthanasia, a euthanasia gone wrong, but you’re uncertain about how, when or why it did so, reading this example may allow you to better understand. You may then be better prepared to take any action you think appropriate for reporting a particular case or reforming the practice. For example, you may be better prepared to compose a letter to the practitioner describing your dissatisfaction. You may also be better prepared to post a review of the clinic and/or file a formal complaint. All of these actions may reduce the possibility of future euthanasia going bad in the same way as the one you witnessed. Unfortunately these actions won’t erase the failed euthanasia or any additional trauma and allow it to be redone peacefully. But I’m quite certain that if you take any actions, any debilitating effects it may be having on you will be reduced. Your actions can make future euthanasia of both your future or present animal companions and those of others more likely to be worthy of the term “good death”.
Be extremely careful with euthanasia! Endings are important...and final.
Michael, of PEI
(For credits, click or tap photo.)
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