Thank you for this article. As you know, veterinarians have high rates of suicide and I can't help but think the treatment of them by disgruntled pet-parents is part of that. You work hard, and tirelessly, to do everything you can, but sometimes, as you said, it's not going to change the inevitable outcome. You are so insightful and compassionate to acknowledge that these situations bring out sides of us that we may not otherwise recognize, but emotions can be so high. Post surgery on a 12 year old dog, I chose to put through surgery to remove a large, rupture any day, tumor, he developed Pancreatitis which he ultimately succamb to. I didn't blame the surgeon for not sharing that as a risk,. I didn't blame the ER which I spent $17,000 at to keep him alive hoping that we could get him through the Pancreatitis and the hope they gave me. I blamed myself for the choices I made, not the well-intentioned vets. I went too far because my emotions were high, but that was on me. I know MANY other people who have gone the other way and blamed vets and that breaks my heart. You do the best you can and put your heart into your work, which has to be devastating and emotionally exhausting in some cases, especially in an ER. Thank you for your service.