Why don't veterinarians oppose factory farm cruelty? | The Business ...

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By Lauren | July 7, 2012

Continuing my week of posts on The Bond, Humane Society CEO Wayne Pacelle?s best-selling new book, let?s turn to the role that veterinarians play - or don?t - in opposing animal cruelty. On Tuesday, we took a brief look at some of the ways that industrial farms inflict needless pain and fear on their animals. Before reading The Bond, I would have expected agricultural veterinarians to be strong advocates for protecting farm animals from cruelty. Sadly, it seems that my expectations would have been dead wrong.

According to The Bond, three quarters of veterinarians? income is derived by providing medical assistance to dogs and cats, with a little over 10% more from horses and 10% from farm animals. However, veterinarians who specialize in treating agricultural animals like swine, cows and poultry reportedly exert disproportionate influence within the American Veterinary Medical Association and similar groups. It seems that those vets tend to focus on maintaining the collective health of farm populations rather than treating individual animals, with the result that the AVMA fails to oppose, or even supports, common farming practices that inflict unnecessary suffering. For example, the AVMA reportedly took no position on the slaughter of lame cows for food, force feeding of geese for foie gras production, starvation of hens to extend their laying cycle, or confining calves for veal, until the industries involved began to change on their own in response to public opinion. Worse, The Bond reveals that the AVMA has actively lobbied in favor of the mass use of antibiotics that allows farmers to cram livestock into small buildings, and vehemently opposed federal legislation to stop the slaughter of American horses for human consumption.

It?s hard to understand why medical professionals who specialize in treating animals would be so insensitive to their pain and terror, but I have my theories. Money is undoubtedly a motivator for some vets whose livelihood depends on factory farms. It?s also possible that overexposure to inhumane conditions eventually numbs vets to animals? suffering. But I suspect that professional pride may also be a factor. After all, gratuitous cruelty has been normal in factory farms for years, and most veterinarians haven?t raised an uproar. Having looked the other way for so long, veterinarians may be embarrassed to admit at this point that that they should have spoken up for farm animals ages ago.

Ultimately, though, veterinarians who work with factory farmers are in an exceptional position to advocate for positive change. Veterinarians take an oath just as doctors do, and that oath includes a promise ?to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, [and] the prevention and relief of animal suffering.? It?s time that the veterinarians who work in the agricultural industry stepped up and made that promise a reality.

This is the last post I?ll write on The Bond this week, but I?ll continue to post from time to time about business ethics issues that involve animal welfare. In the meanwhile, let me urge my readers once again to buy and read The Bond for a much fuller and richer perspective on animal protection than I can provide. To order your copy from any of several booksellers, visit the Humane Society website by clicking here.

Topics: Business Ethics, Lauren Recommends, Personal Ethics, Professional Ethics, Social Ethics, corporate responsibility, ethics |

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