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 />
In additi<strong>on</strong> to public events, there are a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ad hoc and permanent stakeholder groups that<br />
enable discussi<strong>on</strong> am<strong>on</strong>g stakeholders. In our own debates, we realised the importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> having<br />
members who between them hold a broad spectrum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> views <strong>on</strong> animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>. This approach<br />
allowed for comprehensive c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant arguments about specific areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
We encourage all parties to c<strong>on</strong>tinue to take part in such fora (paragraph 15.45).<br />
Open laboratories<br />
In order to improve and sustain public trust, <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers in animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> facilities must find<br />
more ways to open themselves to dialogue. We therefore recommend that those involved in<br />
animal experimentati<strong>on</strong> should take a proactive stance with regard to explaining their <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
the reas<strong>on</strong>s for c<strong>on</strong>ducting it, the actual implicati<strong>on</strong>s for the <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> involved and the beneficial<br />
outcomes they intend for society. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se discussi<strong>on</strong>s should take the form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a two-way process,<br />
in which scientists not <strong>on</strong>ly inform the public about their <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, but also listen to and<br />
understand c<strong>on</strong>cerns by members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public (paragraph 15.52).<br />
Research <strong>on</strong> views <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public<br />
Accurate informati<strong>on</strong> about the current c<strong>on</strong>cerns <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public are important in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidering whether or not policies <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> are likely to be supported by<br />
the majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the populati<strong>on</strong>. However, because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> methodological c<strong>on</strong>straints, opini<strong>on</strong> polls<br />
are <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> limited use, and there is a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> peer-reviewed <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>. We therefore recommend<br />
that the Ec<strong>on</strong>omic and Social Research <str<strong>on</strong>g>Council</str<strong>on</strong>g> (ESRC) and other relevant funding bodies provide<br />
funding for <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> to be undertaken <strong>on</strong> the knowledge, opini<strong>on</strong>s and views <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />
public <strong>on</strong> animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, and the underlying ways <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reas<strong>on</strong>ing. Particular attenti<strong>on</strong> should be<br />
paid to the level and quality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> that participants have prior to, and while taking part<br />
in, the <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, and to the ways in which provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> affects individual resp<strong>on</strong>ses<br />
(paragraph 15.46).<br />
Educati<strong>on</strong><br />
Public debate would also be enhanced by educating young people about issues raised by <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, presenting all sides <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the argument. More balanced materials could make an<br />
important c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> to an improved understanding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the benefits and costs, to both humans<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <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> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, particularly for use in schools. We therefore<br />
recommend that the UK Department for Educati<strong>on</strong> and Skills should commissi<strong>on</strong> an academic<br />
department <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong>, which does not have close links to pressure groups or to those<br />
involved in animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, to produce suitable materials for use across the curriculum as<br />
appropriate, especially at Key Stages 2 and 3 (paragraph 15.41).<br />
Regulati<strong>on</strong><br />
Cost-benefit analysis and moral agency<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> cost-benefit assessment is at the heart <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the regulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <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> in the UK.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is sometimes the view that the assessment is <strong>on</strong>ly being carried out by the Home Office, 6<br />
which ‘tells the <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers what to do’ <strong>on</strong>ce it has decided <strong>on</strong> whether or not a licence<br />
applicati<strong>on</strong> fulfils the criteria <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A and is therefore acceptable. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> APC’s 2003 Report<br />
Review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 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> observed that this<br />
interpretati<strong>on</strong> would be simplistic, since a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> other individuals and committees are<br />
involved in assessing directly or indirectly the costs and benefits <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a project. Furthermore, we<br />
6 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Home Office Inspectorate carries out this assessment and advises the Secretary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> State who takes formal resp<strong>on</strong>sibility<br />
for the granting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> licences.<br />
XXVIII