The problem with the 'gold standard'

In an interview with dvm360, during the 2024 Fetch dvm360 conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Renée Alsarraf, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), author of the memoir “Sit, Stay, Heal: What Dogs Can Teach Us About Living Well,” talked about her lecture “Spectrum of Care: How to Make it Work.” During the interview, Alsarraf posited veterinary medicine’s way of treatment as being on a spectrum, or continuum, rather than being one fixed 'gold standard' way. As Alsarraf explained, the treatment or care for animals involves many components, and only following the 'gold standard' can be detrimental to both the veterinarian and the pet owner.

The following is the interview transcript:

Renée Alsarraf, DVM, DACVIM (Onc): I'm talking on “Spectrum of Care: How to Make it Work.” And I think that spectrum of care, in and of itself, is not a new topic, but I think it just has a different name, and it's being brought to the forefront as to why this approach—this incremental approach to care—is very important.

Spectrum of care really focuses on veterinary medicine or care along a continuum, and not just as one 'gold standard' way of treatment. I think that only in offering that 'gold standard' way, makes everything else seem subpar, and that if that veterinarian offers something that isn't the gold standard, maybe it evokes feelings of inadequacy, or if that pet parent chooses something that isn't that 'gold standard,' they also feel subpar. I think even just the term 'gold standard' seems judgy, right? Because there are so many factors that go into this decision of care for animals.