The unseen animal behind medicine: exploring considerations of animal-derived medications and anaesthetics in today's landscape

Requests for medical and anaesthetic care that is ‘vegan’ or free of animal-derived components are becoming increasingly common in the cultural landscape. Such requests are often rooted in religious beliefs and practices. There are currently no requirements for the disclosure of animal-derived components in medical items. However, both patients and medical professionals agree that greater transparency regarding such items is needed in obtaining informed consent. Although the ethical argument for disclosure has been established, there remain gaps in practical guidelines in recognising animal-derived components in medical items and understanding how to avoid them. This lack of comprehensive knowledge leads to challenges in initiating conversations about appropriate medication selection.

This manuscript will outline the common dietary restrictions of various religious groups and provide instruction on common animal-derived ingredients in medications. It will also introduce potential viable animal-free alternatives for some commonly used medications in the perioperative environment which has not been done previously in the literature. Moreover, we note the broader implications and reasoning behind considering dietary restrictions in medication choices.