Written Permission For Animal Euthanasia

[chanel5]

Does anyone know if it is a legal requirement for a vet to obtain a signature from the owner of an animal before carrying out euthanasia on the animal? i know if an animal is in immediate agony or is a danger to the public, a vet can perform ethanasia, but I am talking about if the owner has taken the animal to a vet surgery, is the vet legally required to get written permission from the animal's owner before performing euthanasia?

[chaptazbru2]

I have always had to sign a form of permission whenever I have had the painful experience of having one of my pets put to sleep. Not sure if it's a legal requirement or not though.

[MTbowels]

Not enough info here. When you say the owner has taken the animal to the surgery what do you mean? Are you saying the vet disappeared into a back room and told the owner the animal had been euthanised? Was the animal left at the surgery? Did the vet say that it might not be possible to treat the animal? Who was present in the room?
The RCVS wouldn't look at a complaint without an exact account of what happened.

[wolf63]

One of my dogs was put to sleep during surgery when a tumour was found. I had signed in advance to authorise this if was to be necessary.

Two that I took to the vet to be put to sleep - one in 1988 and one in 2006 - there was nothing signed by me. I was in the room when my cat died in 2006 and my brother and I when our dog died in 1988.

I trust my vet(s) but there are some who are not so trustworthy, I have to say that the majority of vets offer a good medical service.

[chanel5]

Thank you for your replies. Anytime in the past that I have had to have an animal put to sleep I was asked to sign a form before the injection was carried out, and I wondered if it was a legal requirement for this to be done, even when the owner is present for the euthanasia (ie when the owner has taken the animal to the surgery). Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

[Canary42]

I doubt if it's a legal requirement, but I imagine that most vets would want it in order to prevent a possible Civil case.

[chaptazbru2]

^ Yes, I would agree with that.

[Baldric]

Over the years I've had to take a number of Pets to be PTS, never have I been asked to sign anything.

[Peter Pedant]

well !
goggle 'owners' consent for euthanasia' then this comes up

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/euthanasia-of-animals/

anyone can do it for a start as it dont count as veterinary treatment apparently

[Buenchico]

I've had a vet phone me when I was quite some distance away from his surgery (having dropped my poorly cat in with him for tests earlier in the day) to be told that my cats symptoms were related to FIV and there was nothing that could be done for him that wouldn't involve a prolonged period of distress. So, reluctantly, I gave him permission to put the cat down. There was no suggestion that I had to drive across the county to sign anything first.

[ummmm]

No. My cat was put to sleep with my permission over the phone.

[Brinjal]

I had a pony once that had an operation for colic. I received a call at 3.00am from the vet to say he had put the pony down as it hadn't recovered well and was colic ing and in pain. He did ask permission just informed me after the fact. I was ok with that as I didn't want the poor boy to suffer.