Animal-notes - Animal Subjects Research Ethical Care and...

Animal Subjects Research
Ethical Care and Use of Animals
Guy Mulder, DVM
University Laboratory Animal
Resources, UCI

Overview
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Discussion topics:
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Introduction to Animal Use
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Ethics of using animals in research
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Animal Welfare Laws and Regulations
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Institutional Animal Care and Use
Committee
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Protocol to use animals
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Hazards of working with animals

Animal Use in Research
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Animals have played (and continue to play)
a heroic and vitally important role in
medical research
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Medical progress - for both human and
animal health - requires animal research.

Medical Advances & Animals
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Pre-1900s--Rabies, Smallpox
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1900s-Cardiac catheterization
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1920s-Insulin therapy--Diabetes
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1940s-Antibiotics, Diptheria prevention
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1950s-Polio, Cardiac Pacemakers
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1960s-Rubella prevention
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1970s-Measles prevention, Leprosy
treatment

Medical Advances & Animals
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1980s-Monoclonal antibodies, Organ
transplant advances
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1990s-Laparoscopic surgery, Gene therapy,
AIDS research, Cancer chemotherapy
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Future--
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Xenotransplantation
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Cloning?

Animals Used in Research, Testing
and Teaching (USA)
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70,082 dogs
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22,755 cats
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49,382 non-human primates
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256,193 guinea pigs
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167,231 hamsters
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267,351 rabbits
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26,236 sheep
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60,253 pigs
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75,169 farm animals
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242,251 other animals
Total = 1,236,903
(USDA annual report, 2001)

Mice and Rats
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20-50 million used annually in research
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300-400 million produced commercially
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Pet trade
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Reptile food
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Etc.
-Lib. Of Congress, 8/00

Why Use Animals in Research
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Ethical Arguments
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Nuremberg Code of Ethics in Medical Research
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Declaration of Helsinki

Why Use Animals ...
The Nuremberg Code
1. “…voluntary consent of human subject…”
2. “…should yield fruitful results for the good
of society, unprocurable by other means…”
3. “... be designed and based on results of
animal experimentation and a knowledge of
the natural history of the disease…”

Why Use Animals ...
Declaration of Helsinki
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“Medical research involving human
subjects…generally accepted scientific
principles…and, where appropriate,
animal experimentation .”
-World Health Organization, 1964

Ethical Positions
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Numerous, including...
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Divinely-granted dominion (ie: The Bible )
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Reverence for life
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Animal rights
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Utilitarianism (ie: animal welfare)
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stewardship vs. scientific and societal benefit
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basis for contemporary animal welfare regulations

Animal Rights
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Animal Rights
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Animals and man share equal rights--both are
moral agents
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“personhood” for animals
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All sentient beings deserve equal moral
consideration
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Animal-based research is never justified,
nor is pet ownership, food or fiber
production, etc.

Notable Quotes
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Even if animal research resulted in a cure
for AIDS, “we’d be against it.”
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“A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. They’re all
animals.” Ingrid Newkirk, PETA
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“The life of an ant and my child should be
granted equal consideration.”
M. Fox, HSUS

Fact vs. Myth
Myth : Computer models and cell cultures can replace animal
testing.