Dying like a dog?

Convergences and divergences in the human and veterinary ethical discourse on the end of life of humans and pets and consequences for the relationship between medical and animal ethics

Dying a dog's death? Converging and diverging ethical discourses in human and veterinary medicine about the end of life care for humans and pets and some consequences for the relations between medical and animal ethics


Funding: German Research Foundation (DFG)

Duration: January 2019 to December 2021

 

 

About the project

While human and veterinary medicine have long been closely interlinked at the level of research and therapy, the ethical discussions about the sensible use of available diagnostics, drugs and techniques are only intertwined at certain points. On the one hand, the very broad debate on euthanasia, therapeutic goals and the allocation of resources in cases where there is little prospect of success in humans; on the other hand, the debate on euthanasia or therapeutic goals and the scope of therapies for sick pets. This may be surprising, not only in view of the close links between human and veterinary medicine, but also in view of the cultural and socio-scientific observations on the relationship between humans and (companion) animals.

The far-reaching separation of the discourses of classical medical and veterinary ethics is also remarkable insofar as demands for equal rights, claims or evaluations for humans and animals have long been established in animal ethics, which are obviously gaining plausibility for many people. There are currently several prominent approaches and proposals to identify a common ethic towards humans and animals, even if these differ in terms of extension, justification, etc.

Against the background and state of research outlined above, the overarching aim of the project is to determine the relationship and classification of medical ethics and veterinary ethics within normative ethics. This guiding metaethical question will be addressed using the topic of end-of-life therapy goals in humans and pets as an example. The end-of-life discussions are suitable for a detailed examination insofar as the diseases and treatment options of humans and pets are very similar in many cases, making it easier to relate the discussions of medical and veterinary ethics to a central medical or veterinary field of action on the basis of a broad spectrum of therapies.

The demarcation and intertwining of animal and medical ethics are shown on three levels - morality, normative ethics, metaethics - exemplarily for the end of life and also reveal convergent, divergent or time-delayed developments. The studies will thus contribute to the understanding of possibly divergent assessments, for example in everyday morality, clinical ethics counseling and university ethics.

 

Contact the project management

  • Prof. Dr. Peter Kunzmann
    Tel.: 0511 856-8956 | E-Mail
  • Dr. Gerald Neitzke
    Tel.: 0511 532-4271 | E-Mail