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 />
debate which was organised in 2003. 19 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> different approaches to be<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidered, from large public meetings to c<strong>on</strong>sensus c<strong>on</strong>ferences and citizens’ juries. While<br />
we do not give detailed attenti<strong>on</strong> as to which approach might be best suited to discussi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues raised by animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> we make some general observati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
15.44 First, it is important to create an envir<strong>on</strong>ment for debate in which all views are heard and<br />
all participants are treated with the same respect. Sec<strong>on</strong>dly, the purpose and outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
any public meeting or debate needs to be clear from the outset. For example, it might need<br />
to be stated whether the purpose is restricted to stimulating exchange <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> views, or whether<br />
it is being undertaken in the c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informing decisi<strong>on</strong>-making processes. Failure to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sider the appropriate approach and outcome <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any such exercise can possibly lead to<br />
more, rather than less, polarisati<strong>on</strong> as well as to increasing scepticism about publicengagement<br />
exercises and trust in democratic processes.<br />
15.45 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<br />
groups that enable discussi<strong>on</strong> am<strong>on</strong>g stakeholders. In our own debates, we realised the<br />
importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> having members who between them represent a broad spectrum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> views<br />
<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>. This approach allowed for comprehensive c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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>. We encourage all parties to c<strong>on</strong>tinue<br />
to take part in such fora.<br />
Research <strong>on</strong> views <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public<br />
15.46 We have already commented <strong>on</strong> the limitati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> opini<strong>on</strong> polls, and the scarcity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> peerreviewed<br />
academic <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, which could help provide reliable assessments to be made about<br />
the 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 public about <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> (paragraphs 1.14–1.16).<br />
Such informati<strong>on</strong> can be important in c<strong>on</strong>sidering whether or not policies are likely to be<br />
supported by the majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the populati<strong>on</strong>. We therefore recommend that the Ec<strong>on</strong>omic and<br />
Social Research <str<strong>on</strong>g>Council</str<strong>on</strong>g> (ESRC) and other relevant funding bodies provide funding for <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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 public <strong>on</strong> animal<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, and their 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 paid to the<br />
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 in, the<br />
<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 />
CHAPTER 15 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS<br />
Violence and intimidati<strong>on</strong><br />
15.47 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> current climate in which animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> takes place has been influenced by several<br />
factors, including protests that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten entail threats, harassment and violence (paragraphs<br />
2.22–2.24). <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> effects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these acti<strong>on</strong>s have been highly disproporti<strong>on</strong>ate to the very small<br />
number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activists involved. 20<br />
19 Envir<strong>on</strong>ment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (2003) Eighteenth Report, available at:<br />
http://www.publicati<strong>on</strong>s.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmenvfru/1220/122002.htm. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 21 April 2005;<br />
Understanding Risk Team, University <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> East Anglia (2004) A Deliberative Future? An Independent Evaluati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the GM<br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>? Public Debate about the Possible Commercialisati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Transgenic Crops in Britain, 2003, Working Paper 04-02,<br />
University <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> East Anglia, available at: http://www.uea.ac.uk/env/pur/latest_news.html. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 21 April 2005.<br />
20 Militant extremists have brought c<strong>on</strong>siderable fear to the lives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those whose work involves <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>, and to their<br />
families. Many people who do not have direct associati<strong>on</strong> with animal laboratories but who work for instituti<strong>on</strong>s that provide<br />
services that facilitate animal experimentati<strong>on</strong> have also been affected. Similarly, several charities which fund <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> have stated that they do not wish to engage in an open dialogue about the legitimacy <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><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> for fear <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> becoming a target for extremists. Animal rights extremists threaten not <strong>on</strong>ly scientists engaged directly in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, but also those working for legitimate animal welfare organizati<strong>on</strong>s such as the RSPCA and pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al bodies such as<br />
the IAT and LASA. For example, for the past four years, the IAT has not been able to hold its annual c<strong>on</strong>ference in the UK<br />
because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> threats from extremists. LASA has also had to hold all its meetings in undisclosed locati<strong>on</strong>s to minimise the<br />
attenti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> militant protestors. See also Home Office/DTI (2004) Animal Welfare – Human Rights: protecting people from<br />
animal rights extremists, available at: http://www.home<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice.gov.uk/docs3/humanrights.pdf. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 21 April 2005.<br />
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