Mednet Logo

When do you consider writing an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter for patients with psychiatric illness?

Community PollStarted

Have you ever written an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter for a patient?

90 physicians have voted

Join Mednetto vote and see how they answered.

4 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Psychiatry · Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
Answered on · Updated on

After much soul searching, I decided that I cannot write these letters. The hard part for me is that I'm an animal lover and a pet owner, and I really do appreciate the happiness and comfort that a good animal companion can provide. But the letters are complicated, because for FHA benefits, you are ...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Psychiatry · Private Practice
Answered on

I am very liberal with writing letters for emotional support animals. Many of my patients have trouble relating to humans, and animals are heart-opening. The comfort they supply reduces anxiety and makes human contact easier, in my experience. The ability to make attachments is enhanced, and the nee...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Psychiatry · Oklahoma State University
Answered on

This type of situation seems to have dramatically increased in the last 10 years, and physicians are being asked to endorse a variety of "animals" as Emotional Support Animals. Many physicians feel uncomfortable doing so with clear guidance and procedures, while many likely see a letter as harmless ...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Psychiatry · Christiana Psychiatric Services
Answered on

I have a little threshold for writing letters and supporting having an emotional support animal. Animals are so tremendously therapeutic for all of us, not just those with psychiatric illness. They provide unconditional love, all too infrequently encountered in human relationships. However, I have a...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer