How to answer the question on when to put down the family dog in a medical school interview
- Topic
- End of life
- Kind
- Ethical dilemma
Prompt
Your family's 14-year-old dog can no longer climb stairs and cries at night. The veterinarian says he could live a few more months with daily care costing about $300 a month, which your parents can barely afford, or he could be put to sleep this week. Your 10-year-old brother begs to keep him as long as possible, and your parents ask what you think. What would you say?
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How to approach this question
What this question tests
- Empathy and compassion
- Communication
- Ethical reasoning
How to approach it
This panel interview question about an end-of-life decision tests whether you can give honest advice with compassion when your family's love, money and grief point in different directions. Name each person's interests: the dog's comfort, your parents' strained budget, and your younger brother, who isn't ready to lose him. Ask aloud what the veterinarian thinks the dog's quality of life will be, and what your parents can realistically sustain. Weigh keeping him with daily care against letting him go now, and give your parents a clear view. Explain how you'd talk with your brother, including how you'd be honest with him in words a 10-year-old can understand and whether he should be part of the goodbye.
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