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 />
Box 2.5: Examples <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> undercover investigati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
/infiltrati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
■ In 1975 the Sunday People newspaper published an<br />
exposé <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ‘smoking beagles’ at laboratories bel<strong>on</strong>ging<br />
to Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), which aroused<br />
wide public interest. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> article carried explicit<br />
pictures <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dogs that were c<strong>on</strong>fined to small boxes<br />
and forced to inhale tobacco smoke through devices<br />
attached to their muzzles. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> had the aim<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> testing the efficacy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tobacco substitutes, but<br />
adverse publicity resulted in its terminati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
■ In 1989–90 an undercover investigator recorded videoand<br />
audio-tape material and took photographs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
experiments <str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g> cats and rabbits c<strong>on</strong>ducted by<br />
Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essor Wilhelm Feldberg and his assistant at the<br />
MRC’s Nati<strong>on</strong>al Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) at<br />
Mill Hill in L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essor was c<strong>on</strong>ducting basic<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> the effects <strong>on</strong> blood sugar <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> heating the<br />
abdomen <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an animal. Following the investigati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
the 89-year-old scientist was accused <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inadequately<br />
anaesthetising <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, poor performance and leaving<br />
anaesthetised <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> unattended. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> two<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers returned their licences to the Home Office<br />
before an inquiry into the matter was established by<br />
the MRC (there was some c<strong>on</strong>fusi<strong>on</strong> in the reports at<br />
the time as to whether the licences were to be revoked<br />
or whether this was a voluntary measure). <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> inquiry<br />
found that, as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a failure by the <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers to<br />
maintain anaesthesia <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> sufficient depth, up to four<br />
rabbits experienced avoidable suffering. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> inquiry<br />
also found that the Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the NIMR (as the<br />
certificate holder) and the Named Veterinary Surge<strong>on</strong><br />
had failed in their statutory duties under the A(SP)A. As<br />
a result the Home Office required the Director to<br />
implement a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> changes at the Institute. In<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>, the Home Secretary decided that nobody<br />
over the age <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 70 should hold a project licence.*<br />
■ In 1989, a BUAV undercover investigator joined the<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tract <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> organisati<strong>on</strong> (CRO) 25 Huntingd<strong>on</strong><br />
Research Centre, now Huntingd<strong>on</strong> Life Sciences (HLS),<br />
as a weekend cleaner <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the rodent and dog facilities.<br />
She produced photographic images, some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which<br />
were published together with a report in the British<br />
newspaper Today, and subsequently in publicati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
the BUAV. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> report accused HLS <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong>ing<br />
unnecessary animal suffering and providing poor<br />
housing c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> subsequent investigati<strong>on</strong> by<br />
the Home Office c<strong>on</strong>cluded that the company had not<br />
committed any legal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence.† HLS was infiltrated<br />
again in 1996 by an investigative journalist. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
investigator filmed am<strong>on</strong>gst other things a member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
staff punching a beagle that was being held by a<br />
colleague, and the footage was included in a televisi<strong>on</strong><br />
programme. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> two employees were subsequently<br />
prosecuted under the Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Animals Act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
1911 and admitted to charges <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ‘cruelly terrifying<br />
dogs’. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were given community service orders and<br />
were dismissed from their employment.‡<br />
■ Wickham Research Laboratories, a CRO, was the subject<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an undercover investigati<strong>on</strong> by the BUAV in 1993.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> investigator reported breaches in Home Office<br />
licence c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s and inadequate animal housing<br />
facilities. It was also alleged that the Home Office was<br />
sancti<strong>on</strong>ing procedures for which n<strong>on</strong>-animal methods<br />
were available. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Home Office Inspectorate and the<br />
Medicines C<strong>on</strong>trol Agency investigated these<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir report disclosed poor management<br />
which had led to lax attitudes and practices am<strong>on</strong>g<br />
certain members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> staff including the falsifying <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> test<br />
and envir<strong>on</strong>mental data. One case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unnecessary use<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> was also identified and some aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> staff<br />
training were declared ‘unsatisfactory’. Resp<strong>on</strong>sibility<br />
for these failures was found to lie with the line<br />
manager for the named ‘day-to-day care pers<strong>on</strong>’ at the<br />
time. It was recommended that the manager, who had<br />
subsequently become the ‘day-to-day care pers<strong>on</strong>’ by<br />
the time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Home Office investigati<strong>on</strong>, should be<br />
replaced and his pers<strong>on</strong>al licence revoked. A number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
other members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> staff at Wickham received letters <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
adm<strong>on</strong>iti<strong>on</strong>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> company was also directed by the<br />
Home Office to agree to a formal training scheme for<br />
all staff in its animal unit and to revise standard<br />
operating procedures. However, the Junior Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
the Home Office, who reported the findings, said that<br />
he was satisfied that all the work at Wickham was<br />
properly licensed under the A(SP)A and that some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
the other principal allegati<strong>on</strong>s above were also not<br />
substantiated.∫<br />
■ <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> NAVS undertook an undercover investigati<strong>on</strong> at<br />
the Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School in<br />
1994–5. Members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Society reported the killing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
rodents that were surplus to requirements and which<br />
had not been used, and improper killing methods. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
organisati<strong>on</strong> presented its report <strong>on</strong> the matter, Access<br />
Denied, to the Home Office and the Animal Procedures<br />
Committee. In 1996 the Home Office Inspectorate<br />
carried out an investigati<strong>on</strong> into the allegati<strong>on</strong>s. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Inspectorate identified ‘irregularities in the applicati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> approved methods for the humane killing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
and deficiencies in middle management’. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> designati<strong>on</strong> (see paragraph 13.8) was<br />
revoked and a new certificate was issued <strong>on</strong>ce the<br />
medical school had met certain criteria set by the Home<br />
Office. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se included the retraining <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> staff, the<br />
putting in place <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> operating procedures and changes<br />
to the animal care arrangements.**<br />
■ A BUAV infiltrati<strong>on</strong> took place at a primate <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
facility at Cambridge University in 2001–2. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> BUAV<br />
alleged unpr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al care <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> involved in<br />
procedures, supported by video documentati<strong>on</strong>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Home Office was asked to review whether the<br />
circumstances <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> were acceptable under<br />
the terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the project licence. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> subsequent review<br />
by the Home Office c<strong>on</strong>cluded that the severity limits<br />
and bands for the projects, n<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which was classed as<br />
higher than ‘moderate’, were correctly assigned, and<br />
that there was no evidence for the BUAV’s main<br />
allegati<strong>on</strong>s. However, having scrutinised details <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all<br />
procedures performed extending back to 1998, four<br />
instances <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-compliance with licence authorities<br />
were identified by the Chief Inspector’s review. In<br />
2004–5 the BUAV sought a judicial review against the<br />
Home Office <strong>on</strong> specific points relating to both the<br />
A(SP)A licences and the care <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the m<strong>on</strong>keys they had<br />
filmed at Cambridge. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> BUAV have been granted<br />
25 C<strong>on</strong>tract <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> organisati<strong>on</strong>s (CROs) usually c<strong>on</strong>duct specific <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> behalf <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> companies or institutes which, for<br />
logistical or other reas<strong>on</strong>s, do not undertake the <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> themselves. In some cases, this <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> involves the safety testing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> new medicines and other products including household chemicals and agrochemicals.<br />
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