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 />
useful for interested members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public. In c<strong>on</strong>trast to this view, some scientists took the view<br />
that simplificati<strong>on</strong> would distort the nature and c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
It was noted by some resp<strong>on</strong>dents that results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> were published in the scientific<br />
literature and therefore available, but c<strong>on</strong>cerns were expressed regarding the perceived<br />
insufficient informati<strong>on</strong> regarding the actual use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, husbandry and the role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />
Three Rs. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> scientific and medical language used in such publicati<strong>on</strong>s was also recognised as a<br />
barrier to public understanding.<br />
It was accepted that animal rights groups have provided much informati<strong>on</strong> to the public<br />
regarding <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>. Supporters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these groups c<strong>on</strong>sidered that they had<br />
performed a valuable public service in exposing cruelty and bad practice. However, others took<br />
the view that the informati<strong>on</strong> that they provided was inaccurate, alarmist or out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> date.<br />
Charities fund a significant proporti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> medical <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> and certain<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>dents remarked that they seemed reluctant to acknowledge the part that they played in<br />
the projects that they fund. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y felt that charities should be more open. Others felt that it was<br />
difficult to persuade <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers to speak about their work in public, as they then become a<br />
target <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> extremists. Other suggesti<strong>on</strong>s for provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> included educati<strong>on</strong> in schools<br />
and making available leaflets regarding animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> in doctors’ surgeries and hospital<br />
waiting areas.<br />
On the questi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> who could be trusted in order to obtain reliable informati<strong>on</strong> regarding<br />
<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>, it was felt by some that the current <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial sources <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong><br />
were biased towards those who carried out such <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> and tended to present <strong>on</strong>ly the positive<br />
side <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the work. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se resp<strong>on</strong>dents felt that it was therefore difficult to trust companies which<br />
made a pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>it from <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>. C<strong>on</strong>versely, other resp<strong>on</strong>dents felt that they<br />
would not trust any organisati<strong>on</strong> which promotes unlawful direct acti<strong>on</strong> against <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers or<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>s. Rather, there was a call for an independent body which would balance the different<br />
interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both stakeholders and the general public.<br />
It was suggested by a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>dents that they would like to 'see inside' animal<br />
laboratories; perhaps through the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CCTV camera. Others c<strong>on</strong>sidered that a wealth <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
informati<strong>on</strong> regarding animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> already existed, which is available to any<strong>on</strong>e who is<br />
interested, especially via the Internet.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Council</str<strong>on</strong>g> asked a sec<strong>on</strong>dary questi<strong>on</strong> in its C<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> paper regarding whether medicines<br />
that have been developed using <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> should be labelled as such. Many people supported this<br />
idea. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was c<strong>on</strong>cern by <strong>on</strong>e resp<strong>on</strong>dent that such labelling would lead to an increase in the<br />
number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> people who refuse medicati<strong>on</strong> tested in this way, and who therefore demand<br />
resources to provide alternatives. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was a c<strong>on</strong>cern that pharmaceutical companies might try<br />
to mislead the public they would use <strong>on</strong> such labels.<br />
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