Dear Sir,
I applaud Dr. Rollin for his comments regarding the April 2007 ethical question of the month (Can Vet J 2007;48:679–682).
They reflect a very “common sense” response to a not so uncommon situation faced in rural mixed practices. The key phrase in Dr. Rollin’s response is a “meaningful dialogue ... with the farmer.” This is a skill that is fundamental to small town veterinarians becoming respected and endeared in their community. The “ivory tower” respondents’ disrespect for the client’s wisdom and their lack of empathy for this situation is of grave concern.
The July/August edition of Focus (the OVMA magazine) is entitled “Making a Difference in our Communities,” with articles relating the veterinarian’s role in local communities. Another article quoted statistics from a recent Gallup poll revealing that 82% of respondents felt that veterinarians were compassionate. The cavalier attitude shown by the comments of the other 2 respondents to the April 2007 question could in no way be considered compassionate or a positive contribution to the community.