Bubeck Marc J
Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Universität Potsdam, 14469 Potsdam, Germany.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Aug 4;13(15):2515. doi: 10.3390/ani13152515.
(1) Veterinarians are regularly required to euthanize their "objects of care" as part of their work, which distinguishes them from other healthcare professionals. This paper examines how veterinarians navigate the ethical tensions inherent in euthanasia, particularly the collision between the routine practice of killing animals within their profession and the broader social and moral implications. (2) Using the sociological concept of ethical boundary work as a theoretical framework, this research observes how veterinarians draw boundaries by positioning their euthanasia practices on the ethical "good" spectrum. A grounded theory study of 17 qualitative interviews with veterinarians was conducted. (3) The findings highlight differences in ethical boundary work within veterinary medicine, particularly in the distinction between farm animals and companion animals. Economic and emotional reasoning play differing roles in explanation and justification. Ethical boundary work is a tool for distinguishing normative frameworks in different areas of veterinary medicine. (4) In conclusion, veterinarians grapple with the realities of an imperfect world and often rely on boundary work to assert diverse interests and navigate multiple contexts. By exploring the complexities of ethical boundary work, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the moral landscape within veterinary practice.
（1）兽医在工作中经常需要对他们的“护理对象”实施安乐死，这使他们有别于其他医疗保健专业人员。本文探讨兽医如何应对安乐死中固有的伦理困境，尤其是该职业内杀害动物的常规做法与更广泛的社会和道德影响之间的冲突。（2）本研究以伦理边界工作的社会学概念为理论框架，观察兽医如何通过将其安乐死实践置于伦理“善”的范畴来划定边界。对17名兽医进行了定性访谈的扎根理论研究。（3）研究结果突出了兽医学中伦理边界工作的差异，特别是在农场动物和伴侣动物之间的区别。经济和情感推理在解释和辩护中发挥着不同的作用。伦理边界工作是区分兽医学不同领域规范框架的一种工具。（4）总之，兽医应对不完美世界的现实，并且经常依靠边界工作来维护不同的利益并在多种情况下做出抉择。通过探索伦理边界工作的复杂性，本研究有助于更全面地理解兽医实践中的道德状况。
