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 />
basic <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> will need to be c<strong>on</strong>sidered carefully. Many prop<strong>on</strong>ents argue that if results<br />
from basic <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> are unlikely to ever c<strong>on</strong>tribute to any practical applicati<strong>on</strong>, the <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
would not be permissible, unless the welfare infringements are very minimal.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Three Rs<br />
14.39 Due to the existential nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the c<strong>on</strong>flict, the moral dilemma is a situati<strong>on</strong> that moral<br />
agents will seek to avoid as far as possible. Since they wish to protect the goods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> and humans, there is a great urgency to implement the Three Rs, with particular<br />
emphasis <strong>on</strong> Replacements. Just as prop<strong>on</strong>ents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the approach urge those wishing to<br />
undertake <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> to justify its necessity clearly, they urge that every effort be<br />
made to ensure that the potential <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> alternatives is exhausted as far as possible.<br />
14.40 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y therefore welcome the provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A, according to which <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> can <strong>on</strong>ly be<br />
used for <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> if there is no other way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> obtaining the informati<strong>on</strong>. However, they also<br />
argue that in order for this requirement to carry ethical weight (in the sense that the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> is therefore more acceptable), genuine efforts must be made to develop<br />
replacements, and to overcome the obstacles to their development and implementati<strong>on</strong><br />
(paragraph 3.63 and Chapter 11). Similarly, there is a str<strong>on</strong>g obligati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> those using <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
in the commercial sector. For example, the view can be taken that not all products developed<br />
by the pharmaceutical industry justify the resoluti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the moral c<strong>on</strong>flict between the interests<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> and humans in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the latter. Companies operate in competitive envir<strong>on</strong>ments,<br />
in which the primary aim is to generate pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>its, by focusing <strong>on</strong> those interventi<strong>on</strong>s that<br />
generate the highest returns. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se products are not always those that are most needed<br />
(paragraphs 3.13, 8.7 and 15.83). Whereas, from the ’<strong>on</strong> balance justificati<strong>on</strong>’ viewpoint, there<br />
was no reas<strong>on</strong> to object to this modus operandi in principle, here it can be argued that such<br />
interventi<strong>on</strong>s are <strong>on</strong>ly justified if they do not involve harmful <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> ‘aboliti<strong>on</strong>ist’ view<br />
Justificati<strong>on</strong> for using <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
14.41 According to this view, there is no justificati<strong>on</strong> for any harmful <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> sentient <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
that is not to the benefit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the animal c<strong>on</strong>cerned. This is valid irrespective <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any possible<br />
scientific, medical or other benefit. Since humans should not act in morally objecti<strong>on</strong>able<br />
ways, prop<strong>on</strong>ents argue that every effort must be made to bring an end to all <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g> as so<strong>on</strong> as possible. Research <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> is viewed as unacceptable because any<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>stitutes forced c<strong>on</strong>sequentialist sacrifice which can come in two forms (see<br />
paragraph 15.5):<br />
■ First, <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> can be used to produce results that benefit other <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>. For example,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> may seek to develop a vaccine for cattle. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> directly involved in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> are used without c<strong>on</strong>sent, which is impossible to obtain from <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> are hence forced to experience a range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> negative welfare<br />
infringements for the benefit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> other <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
■ Sec<strong>on</strong>dly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> can be used in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> undertaken for the benefit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> humans. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
examples provided in Chapters 5–9 show that the welfare implicati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> harmful<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> are diverse and include <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> such as toxicity testing and the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
as disease models, both <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which may cause c<strong>on</strong>siderable suffering. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> breeding,<br />
transportati<strong>on</strong> and housing c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s will also affect the animal (see paragraphs<br />
4.31–4.59).<br />
14.42 From the aboliti<strong>on</strong>ist viewpoint, the justificati<strong>on</strong> that prop<strong>on</strong>ents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> provide, for logical reas<strong>on</strong>s, cannot support their case. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> fundamental questi<strong>on</strong><br />
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