A Meat and Dairy Article from All-Creatures.org

AVMA Responds to Dr. Barry Kipperman's Criticism of New Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics

From OurHonor.org
July 2024

Last year, veterinarians who have advocated against the AVMA’s backing of ventilation shutdown were barred from attending the organization’s Cargill-sponsored symposium on animal killing techniques. Non-veterinarian and self-proclaimed 'bacon activist' Jeff Pigott, vice president of industry relations for the National Pork Producers Council, a major pork lobby group, was allowed to attend.

Also see: AVMA Passes Resolution Deeming Depopulation 'Ethical,' Only One Delegate Abstains

At the American Veterinary Medical Association Convention in June 2024, the AVMA adopted its new Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics. The new document added highly controversial language stating, "Depopulation of animals is an ethical veterinary procedure when the AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals is followed."

Dr. Barry Kipperman, a professor of veterinary ethics at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, recently criticized this position in a commentary. Many veterinarians found the AVMA's response to his commentary disappointing.

In light of the AVMA’s obfuscation, we have compiled answers to common questions surrounding depopulation and the AVMA’s processes.

Would reclassifying VSD+ as “not recommended” raise the price of food?

Taxpayers heavily subsidize animal-based protein. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, hunt, or only purchase products from so-called local “high welfare” slaughtered animals, you are paying for the worst corporations that practice the lowest welfare practices that the AVMA condones. No one has the choice of opting out of paying corporations that produce food in ways that don’t align with our values. And the industry is spending a great deal of money to make consumers “trust the process.”

Jennie-O Turkey Store has received more than $105 million in taxpayer-subsidized bailouts after killing its HPAI-infected flocks via heatstroke. The CEO of Hormel Foods, Jennie-O’s parent company, received more than $6 million in compensation, while the company earned more than $12 billion.

In 2023, Tyson Foods' CEO received $13 million in compensation, while the Company generated $13 billion in revenue and received $29 million in taxpayer-subsidized bailouts.

Allowing VSD+ does not keep the price of food low, it just allows for lower welfare production practices while the executives of billion-dollar multi-national corporate conglomerates enrich themselves at taxpayer expense.

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Please read the ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE, including:

• Would reclassifying VSD+ as “not recommended” raise the price of food?
• Was the AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) well-informed about VSD+ before making their decision?
• Was the decision to allow VSD+ in constrained circumstances a carefully deliberated decision?
• Are all AVMA-member veterinarian's perspectives considered in the drafting of these documents?
• How should facilities depopulate their animals?
• How does the AVMA’s policy influence corporations’ ability to receive taxpayer-subsidized bailouts when they depopulate their animals using ventilation shutdown plus (VSD+)?

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Posted on All-Creatures.org: July 22, 2024
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