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 />
15.24 We therefore c<strong>on</strong>sider first how provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> by the Home Office can be<br />
improved, especially in relati<strong>on</strong> to the presentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Statistics, details about granted<br />
licences for <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> and the way the cost-benefit assessment is carried out. We then<br />
explore ways in which discussi<strong>on</strong> between those involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> and interested<br />
stakeholders can be improved; c<strong>on</strong>sider issues raised by the c<strong>on</strong>duct <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public debates <strong>on</strong><br />
animal experimentati<strong>on</strong>; and review the role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> scientists, campaigning organisati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
teachers in educati<strong>on</strong> and higher educati<strong>on</strong>. We also comment <strong>on</strong> the practice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> using<br />
violence and intimidati<strong>on</strong> as means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> protest against animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
Provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> by the Home Office<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 />
15.25 <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,<br />
have an important role in providing informati<strong>on</strong> about animal experimentati<strong>on</strong>. At the<br />
same time, there is wide agreement that the data are presented in ways that are not readily<br />
accessible to lay people, and that the presentati<strong>on</strong> could be improved. In particular, the<br />
Statistics have been criticised for not providing clear answers to the following questi<strong>on</strong>s: (i)<br />
what is the nature, level and durati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pain, suffering and distress actually experienced<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> used in the different 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<br />
in procedures and related activities?<br />
15.26 It is not possible to answer the first questi<strong>on</strong>, because informati<strong>on</strong> about welfare<br />
implicati<strong>on</strong>s is <strong>on</strong>ly provided prospectively, in the process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the licence applicati<strong>on</strong> (see<br />
paragraph 13.14). By definiti<strong>on</strong>, it is not possible to know in advance how <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> will be<br />
affected in practice, and data from separate interim or retrospective analyses are not<br />
reported publicly.<br />
15.27 Informati<strong>on</strong> about the degree <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pain and suffering can, in some sense, be inferred from<br />
the Statistics about the severity bands assigned to granted project licences. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se are<br />
classified in <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> three bands: mild, moderate or substantial (see Box 13.3). But over the<br />
five-year period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a project licence, a range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> different protocols, themselves assigned<br />
different severity limits, may be carried out. It is questi<strong>on</strong>able how meaningful it is to<br />
average out the different limits under <strong>on</strong>e band, in order to provide the public with<br />
accurate informati<strong>on</strong>. For example, it may be the case that a project that c<strong>on</strong>tains ten mild<br />
protocols, each <str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g> 10,000 <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, and <strong>on</strong>e protocol with a substantial severity limit<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g> 50 <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, would still be classified as mild. 3 Furthermore, it has also been<br />
suggested that the category <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> moderate protocols ‘appears to be something <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a catchall,<br />
covering a wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the more invasive procedures’. 4 We make the following<br />
observati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
15.28 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<br />
is unsatisfactory. We recommend that the Home Office should make retrospective<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> about the level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> suffering involved during procedures publicly available. In<br />
gathering this informati<strong>on</strong> the Home Office should also obtain and make available,<br />
retrospectively, informati<strong>on</strong> about the extent to which the scientific objectives set out in<br />
applicati<strong>on</strong>s have been achieved.<br />
3 Animals Procedures Committee (2003) 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>, p44, available at:<br />
http://www.apc.gov.uk/reference/costbenefit.pdf. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 4 April 2005.<br />
4 Animals Procedures Committee (2003) 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>, p44, available at:<br />
http://www.apc.gov.uk/reference/costbenefit.pdf. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 4 April 2005.<br />
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