Ethics and Ethical Analysis in Veterinary Science: The Development and Application of the Ethical Matrix Method

摘要

Animal professionals, veterinarians and scientists working with animals deal with a unique and complex set of ethical dilemmas that arise out of the nature of clinical practice and animal use. This paper discusses the complexity of these ethical dilemmas and examines the development and use of ethical tools to support decisionmaking. The paper focuses on the development and use of the ethical matrix, originally presented by Ben Mepham in particular discussing how this method has been adapted for a number of different uses. Several recent applications of this approach are discussed. Finally, the need and opportunities for further development of these types of tools is explored.