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 />
15.29 <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<br />
procedures is not straightforward and therefore difficult for members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public to<br />
understand. We recommend that the annual Statistics should provide case studies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
projects and procedures that were categorised as unclassified, mild, moderate or<br />
substantial. Case studies should also 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<br />
periods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time and should describe not <strong>on</strong>ly their immediate involvement in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> but<br />
also the range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> factors that influenced their life experiences, such as the c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
breeding, housing and handling (see paragraph 4.31).<br />
15.30 <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<br />
procedures should be reviewed, particularly the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the moderate category which<br />
covers a wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> different implicati<strong>on</strong>s for animal welfare. For the general public,<br />
the category unclassified, which refers to protocols and procedures <str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g> terminally<br />
anaesthetised <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, is too vague to be informative, and should be clarified. 5<br />
15.31 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Statistics give details about the total number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> used for the first time in a year, and<br />
the total number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedures initiated in that year (paragraph 13.27). As we have said, the<br />
term procedure refers to a wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities, with very different implicati<strong>on</strong>s for animal<br />
welfare which may arise from breeding, the withdrawal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> blood, or experiments where death<br />
can be the endpoint. It is not straightforward to infer from the number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedures<br />
undertaken how many <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> have experienced what kind <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pain, suffering or distress.<br />
15.32 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> humane killing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> by means set out in Schedule 1 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A, for whatever<br />
purpose, is not itself a licensed procedure. Animals killed in this way are therefore not<br />
recorded in the Statistics. Many would argue that possessi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a life is a morally relevant<br />
feature, and that it is therefore important to provide informati<strong>on</strong> about the number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> that are killed humanely (paragraphs 3.47, 13.26 and 14.5).<br />
15.33 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><br />
is very complex and that care needs to be taken to avoid making existing administrative<br />
processes more <strong>on</strong>erous. Nevertheless, we think it highly desirable to present clearer<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> about 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<br />
and distress, to what degree, and for how l<strong>on</strong>g. We therefore recommend that the<br />
Statistics be revised to provide this informati<strong>on</strong>, including details about the number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> killed under A(SP)A Schedule 1.<br />
CHAPTER 15 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS<br />
15.34 Further thought is required to identify how changes could be made to improve informati<strong>on</strong><br />
about the suffering and numbers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>. We are aware that the<br />
APC, 6 LASA and the RSPCA together with the Boyd Group 7 are c<strong>on</strong>sidering these issues at<br />
the time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> writing. We hope that the Home Office will find our general observati<strong>on</strong>s useful<br />
in c<strong>on</strong>sidering the reports from these groups.<br />
Informati<strong>on</strong> about licensed <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> projects<br />
15.35 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been some discussi<strong>on</strong> about whether or not, and if so to what degree,<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> about <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> projects that have been approved by the Home Office should<br />
5 We note that some explanati<strong>on</strong> can be found in the Guidance notes <strong>on</strong> the A(SP)A (p32). However, it is unlikely that members<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public will c<strong>on</strong>sult this document, and it is therefore important to clarify the terminology in appropriate places, for<br />
example in the Statistics.<br />
6 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> APC’s Report will be available in 2005 at: http://www.apc.gov.uk/reference/reports.htm. See Animal Procedures Committee<br />
(2004) Work Programme, available at: http://www.apc.gov.uk/aboutapc/workprog2004.htm. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 21 April 2005.<br />
7 See http://www.boyd-group.dem<strong>on</strong>.co.uk, see also: <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Boyd Group (2004) Categorising the severity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> scientific procedures <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> - Summary and reports from three round-table discussi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> severity limits and bands in the UK, available at:<br />
http://www.boyd-group.dem<strong>on</strong>.co.uk/severity_report.pdf. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 21 April 2005.<br />
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