Project Details
Description
Vets and doctors are both involved in managing death, but the changing ways in which the professions are involved in end of life care have not been studied together. Nor has there been systematic examination of how the two professions might learn together in this field. Using cutting edge post-human theories and inter-species empirical and ethical approaches, this project will drive forward such research. First, it builds on the small but growing literature which shows how companion animals are increasingly conceptualized as family members and can provide metaphors and models by which to discuss the care of human family members. Second, it responds to observable changes in practice by which the the end-of-life treatment of humans and non-humans animals are becoming much less distinct, for example, through the emergence of animal hospices and increasing discussion of medically assisted dying.
The project examines how contemporary trends might contradict and complicate the legal and ethical basis of both overlapping and divergent clinical practices. At a time when approaches to end of life care are being redrawn, it will create opportunities for the veterinary and medical professions to learn together, through accessing shared ideals and valued differences within the negotiation of a ‘good death’.
The project examines how contemporary trends might contradict and complicate the legal and ethical basis of both overlapping and divergent clinical practices. At a time when approaches to end of life care are being redrawn, it will create opportunities for the veterinary and medical professions to learn together, through accessing shared ideals and valued differences within the negotiation of a ‘good death’.
Layman's description
Vets and doctors are both involved in managing death, but the changing ways in which animals and humans are cared for at the end of life, and how the two professions might learn together has yet to be explored.
The project will build on recent work which shows that pets are increasingly treated as family members, with veterinary care often being compared and contrasted with the medical care of humans. It also responds to changing practices across human and animal end of life care, such as the emergence of animal hospices and increasing discussion of medically assisted dying. The project examines how modern human-animal relationships might unsettle traditional differences in veterinary and human end of life care. At a time when what is expected of vets and doctors is changing, this project will create opportunities to learn together, through exploring shared goals and important differences in understanding a ‘good death’.
The project will build on recent work which shows that pets are increasingly treated as family members, with veterinary care often being compared and contrasted with the medical care of humans. It also responds to changing practices across human and animal end of life care, such as the emergence of animal hospices and increasing discussion of medically assisted dying. The project examines how modern human-animal relationships might unsettle traditional differences in veterinary and human end of life care. At a time when what is expected of vets and doctors is changing, this project will create opportunities to learn together, through exploring shared goals and important differences in understanding a ‘good death’.
| Status | Finished |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 10/02/20 → 8/02/24 |