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 />
unambiguous recommendati<strong>on</strong>s in specific areas. While it is therefore not possible to attribute to<br />
all members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the group the c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s and recommendati<strong>on</strong>s presented <strong>on</strong> any <strong>on</strong>e issue, all<br />
members do accept the recommendati<strong>on</strong>s as valid c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s to the debate, clarifying further<br />
important implicati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the more abstract thoughts presented in the c<strong>on</strong>sensus statement<br />
above. N<strong>on</strong>etheless, <strong>on</strong> a few occasi<strong>on</strong>s it did not prove possible to identify positi<strong>on</strong>s that were<br />
acceptable to all members. In such instances we have tried to explain the areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> disagreement<br />
and we hope that these descripti<strong>on</strong>s help to clarify the nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the underlying dispute in a<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structive way (paragraph 15.21).<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the debate<br />
Statistical informati<strong>on</strong> about the number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> used and the suffering involved<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Annual Statistics <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Scientific Procedures <strong>on</strong> Animals, published by the Home Office, have an<br />
important role in providing informati<strong>on</strong> about animal experimentati<strong>on</strong>. At the same time, there<br />
is wide agreement that the data are presented in ways that are not readily accessible to lay<br />
people, and that the presentati<strong>on</strong> could be improved. In particular, the Statistics have been<br />
criticised for not providing clear answers to the following questi<strong>on</strong>s: (i) what is the nature, level<br />
and durati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pain, suffering and distress actually experienced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> used in the different<br />
kinds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedures? and (ii) how many <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> are used in procedures and related activities?<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminology used to describe the severity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> projects and individual protocols and procedures<br />
is not straightforward and therefore difficult for members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public to understand. We<br />
recommend that the annual Statistics should provide case studies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> projects and procedures<br />
that were categorised as unclassified, mild, moderate or substantial. Case studies should also<br />
include examples <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> used over extended periods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time and should describe not <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
their immediate involvement in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> but also the range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> factors that influenced their life<br />
experiences, such as the c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> breeding, housing and handling (paragraph 15.29).<br />
Informati<strong>on</strong> about the suffering that <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> involved in procedures experience in practice is<br />
unsatisfactory. We recommend that the Home Office should make retrospective informati<strong>on</strong><br />
about the level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> suffering involved during procedures publicly available. In gathering this<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> the Home Office should also obtain and make available, retrospectively, informati<strong>on</strong><br />
about the extent to which the scientific objectives set out in applicati<strong>on</strong>s have been achieved<br />
(paragraph 15.28).<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> current system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> severity banding for project licences and the severity limits for procedures<br />
should be reviewed, particularly the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the moderate category which covers a wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
different implicati<strong>on</strong>s for animal welfare. For the general public, the category unclassified, which<br />
refers to protocols and procedures <str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminally anaesthetised <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, is too vague to<br />
be informative, and should be clarified (paragraph 15.30). 3<br />
We realise that the system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> collecting data about the numbers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> used in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> is<br />
very complex and that care needs to be taken to avoid making existing administrative processes<br />
more <strong>on</strong>erous. Nevertheless, we think it highly desirable to present clearer informati<strong>on</strong> about<br />
how many <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a particular species experience pain, suffering and distress, to what<br />
degree, and for how l<strong>on</strong>g. We therefore recommend that the Statistics be revised to provide this<br />
informati<strong>on</strong>, including details about the number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> killed under A(SP)A Schedule 1<br />
(paragraph 15.33).<br />
3 We note that some explanati<strong>on</strong> can be found in the Guidance notes <strong>on</strong> the Act (Home Office (2000) Guidance <strong>on</strong> the<br />
Operati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong>: TSO), p32, available at: http://www.archive.<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficialdocuments.co.uk/document/hoc/321/321.htm<br />
Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 4 May 2005. However, it is unlikely that members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public<br />
will c<strong>on</strong>sult this document, and it is therefore important to clarify the terminology in appropriate places, for example in<br />
the Statistics.<br />
XXVI