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 ...
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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 />
Genetically modified <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> and harmful mutati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
13.25 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> breeding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> that are intended for use as disease models, and the breeding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> for other purposes which are known to cause pain, suffering or distress are classified<br />
as scientific procedures. Similarly, the breeding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any GM animal is currently classified as a<br />
scientific procedure, because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> possible adverse implicati<strong>on</strong>s for welfare. 23 In 2003, 27 percent<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all animal procedures (764,000 in total) involved GM <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, more than treble that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1995.<br />
Two thirds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these were used solely for the purpose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> breeding, in order to develop and<br />
maintain ‘GM lines’; they were not involved in any other procedure or experiment, although<br />
some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <strong>on</strong>ce killed, may also have been used to provide tissue for <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
purposes. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> breeding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> phenotypically normal <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> (i.e. <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> that are said to be as<br />
‘healthy’ as the average wild type <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the animal) does not count as a scientific procedure. 24<br />
Killing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
13.26 Animals that are not used in regulated procedures but killed in designated establishments<br />
to obtain tissue samples or because they are surplus to requirements are excluded from the<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trols <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A if they are killed by <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the methods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> humane euthanasia listed<br />
in Schedule 1 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Act. 25 Certificate holders must ensure that humane killing is performed<br />
by a pers<strong>on</strong> who has been trained to use these methods competently.<br />
Statistics about animal use and informati<strong>on</strong> about licences granted<br />
13.27 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Home Office publishes detailed Annual Statistics <strong>on</strong> the numbers and species <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
used in scientific procedures in Great Britain, (see Appendix 2). 26 For reas<strong>on</strong>s related to the<br />
licensing process and European reporting requirements, the Statistics focus <strong>on</strong> details about<br />
the annual number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedures started and numbers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> used for the first time in<br />
procedures started that year. Animals used in more than <strong>on</strong>e series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedures are <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
counted <strong>on</strong>ce (see paragraph 13.17). <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Statistics do not give any informati<strong>on</strong> about the<br />
degree <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pain and suffering that is actually experienced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> involved in procedures.<br />
This is because the severity banding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedures, protocols and projects is based <strong>on</strong><br />
prospective assessments, and because informati<strong>on</strong> about severity bands assigned to<br />
particular projects relates to the estimated average suffering <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all the <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> involved (see<br />
Box 13.3 and paragraphs 15.25–15.34).<br />
13.28 Secti<strong>on</strong> 24 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A makes it an <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence for individuals with a functi<strong>on</strong> under the Act<br />
(i.e. the Minister, his <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and the APC) to disclose any informati<strong>on</strong> that they have<br />
received in carrying out that functi<strong>on</strong> and which they believe to be c<strong>on</strong>fidential. 27 Until<br />
2005, practical applicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this clause meant that very little informati<strong>on</strong> about animal<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> has been made public. Those wishing for more access argue that the recently<br />
implemented provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Informati<strong>on</strong> Act 2000 (FoI, see Box 13.4) imply<br />
that there ought to be more openness.<br />
23 See paragraph 4.57.<br />
24 However, breeding facilities must have a certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> designati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
25 Schedule 1 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A sets out ‘Appropriate methods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> humane killing’. For example, all protected <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> may be<br />
killed by an overdose <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an anaesthetic, using a route and an anaesthetic agent appropriate for the size and species <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
animal. Dislocati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the neck is permissible for rodents up to 500g, rabbits up to 1kg, and birds up to 3kg.<br />
26 Statistics for Northern Ireland are published separately and not included in the Home Office Statistics for Great Britain. In<br />
2000, 14,124 <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> were used in Northern Ireland. See House <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lords Select Committee <strong>on</strong> Animals in Scientific<br />
Procedures (2002) Animals in Scientific Procedures (Norwich: HMSO), Chapter 1.<br />
27 See also: Ministerial Statement announcing the outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> secti<strong>on</strong> 24 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Animals (scientific Procedures<br />
Act 1986, 1 July 2004, available at: http://www.home<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice.gov.uk/docs3/animalproc_wms_secti<strong>on</strong>24_040701.pdf. Accessed<br />
<strong>on</strong>: 4 April 2005.<br />
230