Owners’ informed consent for a necropsy of a companion animal as a conflict-reducing mean in the veterinary practice

Abstract

Objectives The authors’ aim is not only to extend research, but also to assist in problem-solving actions in every-day veterinary practice. Material and methods Legal and moral norms related to veterinary necrops and the consent of the owners were analyzed according to literary, teleological and comparative interpretation methods. Results Professional ethical norms in connection with the civil law are ius semidispositivum (semiimperativum), the parties may regulate their rights and obligations in a manner different from the statutory provisions, if such changes are more favorable, e.g. provide higher ethical standards, strengthen ownership rights, and intensify animal protection. Conclusions The case of any the diagnostic section (different from the forensic veterinary necropsies carried out at the ordinance of the court, prosecutor or the police, and administrative-sanitary necropsies), the veterinary surgeon is required to obtain the owner’s express, informed consent, preferably in written.

Keywords

• post-mortem
• animal welfare
• animal cadaver
• forensic veterinary medicine
• posthumous