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 />
It issued a policy statement to the effect that, in making the cost-benefit assessment, these<br />
tests were no l<strong>on</strong>ger c<strong>on</strong>sidered a sufficient benefit to justify any use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>. In additi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
it was announced that, other than in very excepti<strong>on</strong>al circumstances, the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the great<br />
apes would be c<strong>on</strong>sidered too great a cost to be justified by any possible benefit. 29<br />
13.31 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re have also been other policy developments, c<strong>on</strong>cerning c<strong>on</strong>trols <strong>on</strong> the importati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
primates, 30 the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the ascites method to produce m<strong>on</strong>ocl<strong>on</strong>al antibodies (see paragraphs<br />
5.26 and 11.10), the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certain toxicology procedures (Box 11.2) and the housing and<br />
husbandry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certain laboratory species, which have also been introduced by policy<br />
statements or the publicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> supplementary codes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> practice. 31<br />
Recent issues <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public debate<br />
13.32 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> debate in the UK about issues raised by the regulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> is led mainly<br />
by a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> nati<strong>on</strong>al campaigning organisati<strong>on</strong>s and some local grass-roots activists who<br />
are opposed to animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> (Box 2.4). <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se groups questi<strong>on</strong> whether or not the<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A are always interpreted correctly and whether, in practice, they are<br />
properly implemented. Some campaigning organisati<strong>on</strong>s and activists assert that there is a<br />
need for undercover investigati<strong>on</strong>s (see Box 2.5). Scientific and medical <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers have<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>ded by creating organisati<strong>on</strong>s to communicate their views to the public (see<br />
paragraph 2.30 and Box 2.4).<br />
13.33 In general, there has been criticism <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> openness about animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the UK.<br />
Some campaigning groups would like access to applicati<strong>on</strong>s for project licences to comment<br />
<strong>on</strong>, and where necessary challenge, whether they should be granted (see Box 13.4 and<br />
paragraphs 15.35–15.36). Notwithstanding their methodological limitati<strong>on</strong>s, surveys <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
opini<strong>on</strong> suggest a widespread lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> trust in the regulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> combined<br />
with a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> understanding about what is d<strong>on</strong>e and how it is regulated (paragraph 1.14).<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> primates in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> and testing has raised ethical and animal welfare related<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerns for many years, and has also been the subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several campaigns by animal<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> organisati<strong>on</strong>s. For example, the RSPCA has issued several reports <strong>on</strong> this issue and<br />
initiated campaigns ‘to reduce the numbers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> primates used and to replace them with more<br />
humane alternatives’. 32<br />
13.34 Further issues are provoked by Secti<strong>on</strong> 5 (5) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A which prescribes that licences will<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly be granted if a n<strong>on</strong>-animal method that could produce the knowledge sought by<br />
means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the animal procedure is unavailable. Many campaigning organisati<strong>on</strong>s assert that<br />
a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> alternatives to using <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> exist but are not used as widely as they<br />
could be in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> and testing. 33 Some believe that there are already sufficient alternatives<br />
for all <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> uses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> to be replaced immediately. Others take the view that<br />
existing alternatives are used where possible, but believe that with more effort and<br />
funding, it would be possible to develop many new alternatives that could reduce the need<br />
to use <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> (see paragraphs 11.6–11.30). We return to these issues in Chapter 15.<br />
29 Animal Procedures Committee (2003) Review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the cost-benefit assessment in the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> (L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong>: Home<br />
Office).<br />
30 Where an alternative method is practically available and effective. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wild-caught primates has also been<br />
aband<strong>on</strong>ed as a matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> policy unless excepti<strong>on</strong>al and specific justificati<strong>on</strong> can be established.<br />
31 For example Home Office (1995) Code <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> practice for the housing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in designated breeding and supplying<br />
establishments, available at: http://www.home<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice.gov.uk/docs/cop_hcasp.html. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 4 May 2005.<br />
32 RSPCA (2005) Primates, available at:<br />
http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCACampaigns/Primates/PrimatesHomepage. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 4 May 2005.<br />
33 For example, Dr Hadwen Trust, available at: http://www.crueltyfreeshop.com/drhadwen/faq.htm. Accessed <strong>on</strong> 6 May 2005.<br />
232