The Executive Board reaffirmed "Guidelines for veterinary hospice care" as per the recommendation of the AVMA Committee on the Human-Animal Bond.

People comfortable with the concept of hospice for terminally ill persons are increasingly requesting that veterinarians provide similar services for their companion animals.

The guidelines, originally approved by the board in April 2001, were recently reviewed as part of a five-year policy review directive. The Committee on the Human-Animal Bond agreed that the content of the guidelines continues to be appropriate and useful, and recommended they be reaffirmed.

The "Guidelines for veterinary hospice care" can be viewed online at www.avma.org/issues/policy/hospice_care.asp.