University of Missouri Veterinary Medicine Mock Interview
Practice 30 University of Missouri Veterinary Medicine interview questions covering clinical reasoning, animal welfare ethics, and program fit.
Question 29 of 30
As a veterinarian, you might face ethical dilemmas. How do you handle ethical conflict?
How to Answer
Example Answer
Community Answers
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
When practicing veterinary medicine, you will face ethical and moral dilemmas that require critical thinking and a professional response. The admissions team at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine wants to know more about your behavior and critical thinking skills around situations involving ethical conflict.
Take some time to research and consider common ethical situations or dilemmas you could find yourself facing during your career in veterinary care. Then, consider how you would react should these common situations present themselves. Common ethical dilemmas that veterinarians face include:
- Performing vanity surgeries like ear cropping, de-barking or de-clawing
- Treatments differing between insured and non-insured patients
- Entuthenizing animals due to financial impact
Consider the attempts you would make to determine the best course of action when facing a conflicting choice. Think about how you would come to a decision or determine what to do when pinned by an ethical dilemma.
This scenario-based question is hypothetical so you do not need to give a real-life example of a time when you faced a similar situation. However, if you have a real-life example of a related scenario, you can certainly include a brief story in your response.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"Euthanasia, cosmetic surgeries, abuse cases, and more are a few ethical dilemmas a veterinarian may face. I desire to handle dilemmas with great professionalism and moral responsibility. I believe that the tension presented in ethical situations comes from differences in opinion based on the worth of an animal and possibly a lack of education on particular issues. When faced with an ethical dilemma, I would first explore all of my options and decide what provides the most benefit for the animal. In cases such as convenience euthanasia, it is important to define whether or not it is convenient. Many cases are situational. I have been learning about the CASES model created by the Veterans' Administration to guide ethical dilemmas in medicine. This acronym stands for Clarify, Assemble, Synthesize, Explain, Support. If faced with an ethical dilemma, I would use this guideline before making any decisions. First, I would clarify the consultation request. Second, I would assemble the relevant information. Third, I would synthesize the information. Fourth, explain the synthesis, and fifth, support the consultation process."
Interview Coach
Jaymie
A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.
Typically responds within 24 hours.
0 - Character Count
Unlock All 30 University of Missouri Questions
Master admissions questions that reveal your veterinary commitment and clinical potential.
Get StartedJump to Question