The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
T h e e t h i c s o f r e s e a r c h i n v o l v i n g a n i m a l s<br />
State (as advised). Secti<strong>on</strong> 14 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A provides that no animal that has been involved<br />
in protocols that caused severe pain or distress may be reused. Similarly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> that have<br />
underg<strong>on</strong>e procedures under general anaesthesia cannot be reused unless the Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State has given permissi<strong>on</strong> and certain specified c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s are met.<br />
13.18 Project licences last for a maximum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> five years. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> holder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a licence is pers<strong>on</strong>ally<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for all procedures c<strong>on</strong>ducted <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> under that licence. Project licences <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
give authority to perform those procedures stated in the licence. C<strong>on</strong>tract <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s are granted somewhat broader licences for toxicity testing. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se might permit<br />
the testing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> defined classes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, for example, pharmaceuticals or other chemicals to assess their<br />
effects <strong>on</strong> specific organs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> specified <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, or they may be licensed to undertake particular<br />
types <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, for example <strong>on</strong> embryo or fetal development. In quantitative terms, licences<br />
may permit the c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> many individual techniques, ranging from a few to several hundred.<br />
To c<strong>on</strong>duct any procedures that vary from the specificati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the licence c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a breach<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the law or the terms and c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the licence, and renders the licence holder liable to<br />
disciplinary acti<strong>on</strong> (see Box 2.5 and paragraph 13.11). 19<br />
Certificates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> designati<strong>on</strong><br />
13.19 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> holder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> designati<strong>on</strong> is normally expected to be a senior manager or<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial in the establishment. This individual is pers<strong>on</strong>ally resp<strong>on</strong>sible for ensuring that the<br />
establishment complies with the c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the certificate. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> certificate holder is also<br />
required to nominate at least <strong>on</strong>e pers<strong>on</strong> who has day-to-day resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for the health<br />
and welfare <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all the <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in their charge, called the named animal care and welfare<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficer (NACWO). A named veterinary surge<strong>on</strong> (NVS) to advise the certificate holder, licence<br />
holders, NACWOs and others about the health and welfare <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> must also be<br />
nominated. As part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the certificate, the holder is resp<strong>on</strong>sible for<br />
ensuring that the establishment complies with the appropriate Codes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Practice (see<br />
paragraph 13.10). <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y must ensure that proper records are kept about the source, use and<br />
eventual disposal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Home Office Inspectorate<br />
13.20 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> workings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A and the granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the three types <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> licence described above<br />
is currently administered by the Home Office, rather than by other Government<br />
departments, to avoid possible c<strong>on</strong>flicts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> interest. Many other departments with<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for areas such as human health or the envir<strong>on</strong>ment may be directly involved<br />
in animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, for example by commissi<strong>on</strong>ing or funding <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Home Office, by<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trast, has no such involvement and has therefore been given the task <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> issuing licences.<br />
Its Inspectors are required to have medical or veterinary qualificati<strong>on</strong>s and are expected to<br />
have experience in scientific <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>. In 2004, there were 30 Inspectors who assisted in<br />
advising the Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State in granting licences and any c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s that should be set.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y also provide advice to certificate holders and others with a role under the Act <strong>on</strong> best<br />
practice in laboratory animal welfare. Inspectors make visits to <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> facilities to<br />
ascertain that licence authorities and c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s are being met. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have the right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> access<br />
to any designated establishment to m<strong>on</strong>itor compliance. At the end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2003, there were 232<br />
designated establishments in Great Britain. During 2003, the Inspectorate made 3703 visits<br />
to departments within establishments in additi<strong>on</strong> to other visits for formal meetings. Over<br />
50 percent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these visits were unannounced. 20<br />
19 See also footnote 10.<br />
20 Home Office (2004) Statistics <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Scientific Procedures <strong>on</strong> Living Animals Great Britain 2003 (L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong>: HMSO).<br />
228