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Many students and alumni consider the Veterinary Oath, which students take upon graduation, as a valuable and meaningful conclusion to their studies. However, there are differing opinions on its wording, and there is a need for more dialogue about the oath (including in education) and its application in practice. This is the result of an evaluation conducted by master's student Jolien ten Brinke, five years after the oath was introduced.

The oath was not introduced as an endpoint, but as a starting point for intervision and dialogue

In 2019, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine introduced an (optional) veterinary oath for graduating students. The oath is similar to the Hippocratic Oath taken by medical students, but tailored to the veterinary profession. During the graduation ceremony, students promise to practice veterinary medicine to the best of their ability in the service of animals, humans and society. For the full text of the veterinary oath, click here (in Dutch).

Evaluation

At the request of the vice-dean of education, the oath was evaluated by master's student Jolien ten Brinke. She contacted 242 current veterinary students and veterinarians who have graduated since 2019. The response rate was nearly 50 percent among students and over 6 percent among graduated veterinarians. Ten Brinke also conducted several standardized in-depth interviews.

The study shows that there is broad support among respondents for the Veterinary Oath (over 80 percent are in favor). Opinions are divided on whether the (currently optional) oath should be mandatory. This also applies to the wording used and the question of how useful the oath is for veterinary practice. Particularly students and veterinarians working with livestock experience a tension in balancing the interests of animals, people, and public health, which can sometimes be conflicting. Some respondents indicate that the phrase 'I prioritize the welfare of the animal and take into account the views of the person responsible for the animal, while respecting the intrinsic value of the animal' is sometimes difficult to implement in practice.

'Starting point for dialogue'

Vice-dean of education Harold Bok is pleased with Ten Brinke's research. "It is good to see that there is broad support for the oath as a symbolic conclusion to the study. I also personally find it a special moment when students who are about to enter our profession express their intention to serve the interests of animals, people, and society to the best of their ability." Bok finds it very recognizable that veterinarians operate in a complex field in practice. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions. "The oath was not introduced as an endpoint, but as a starting point for intervision and dialogue", says Bok.

Bok will ask one of the drafters of the oath, Prof. Franck Meijboom from the Centre for Sustainable Animal Stewardship, whether the findings of the study give reason to reconsider certain formulations. "Jolien especially calls on us to do more work on the dialogue, and to pay even more explicit attention to the oath in education. I find that a very valuable recommendation and we will take up that challenge."