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 />
a formalisati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the cost-benefit assessment, which would encapsulate in European law<br />
the approach that underlies the 1986 UK legislati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the current debate in the UK<br />
2.28 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> history <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the debate <strong>on</strong> animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the UK has been characterised by c<strong>on</strong>flict,<br />
dialogue and cooperati<strong>on</strong>. It has involved campaigners, representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> animal protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s, physicians, scientists, those engaged in animal care and members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />
general public. Despite differences <strong>on</strong> matters such as whether or not specific types <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> are acceptable, opini<strong>on</strong> polls commissi<strong>on</strong>ed by various organisati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cur<br />
in their finding that most people perceive a need for more informati<strong>on</strong>. 39<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> openness and transparency<br />
2.29 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> underlying assumpti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> most Western states is that a system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> representative<br />
democracy is the most appropriate model to devise policies that are compatible with the<br />
wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> views held by members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public. N<strong>on</strong>etheless, c<strong>on</strong>troversies remain in<br />
many areas, and parliamentarians and policy makers are required to justify their decisi<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
especially in areas where there is no c<strong>on</strong>sensus. In order to keep the public committed to<br />
democratic instituti<strong>on</strong>s and processes, all stakeholders need to have, as far as possible, access<br />
to relevant informati<strong>on</strong> (see Box 13.4). It is also necessary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer credible and legitimate<br />
opportunities to c<strong>on</strong>tribute views that policy makers should c<strong>on</strong>sider in their decisi<strong>on</strong>s. An<br />
atmosphere <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> openness and transparency is crucial in this respect.<br />
2.30 Until recently, most scientists were reluctant to engage with the public. Some have had<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerns about the possibility <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> becoming victims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> aggressi<strong>on</strong>. Others may have decided<br />
that explaining or justifying their <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> to lay people was unnecessary. Currently, there is<br />
a small, but increasing number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> academic and industrial scientists, and scientific<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>s involved in animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> who are more willing to engage in public debates<br />
about their work, particularly in relati<strong>on</strong> to ethically sensitive matters. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y take a proactive<br />
stance in explaining their <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, the reas<strong>on</strong>s for c<strong>on</strong>ducting it and the beneficial<br />
outcomes that they anticipate for society. 40 For example, the Roslin Institute, whose<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers cl<strong>on</strong>ed the sheep Dolly in 1996 (see paragraph 5.28–5.29), invited representatives<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the press and the public to visit its laboratories, in reacti<strong>on</strong> to the c<strong>on</strong>troversies about<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g> reproductive cl<strong>on</strong>ing. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Institute also aims to increase knowledge about<br />
animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> am<strong>on</strong>g n<strong>on</strong>-scientific or n<strong>on</strong>-technical staff who interact with the local<br />
community. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> CRO HLS has also generally increased openness. When a new senior<br />
management team was appointed in 1998, several measures were adopted in recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
the fact that until then there had not been sufficient engagement with the public. Visits are<br />
now regularly organised and have included local groups, schools and colleges, as well as<br />
Members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Parliament. All visitors are usually invited for a tour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the animal facilities. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
company has also been involved in several televisi<strong>on</strong> documentaries in which members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
staff have given interviews. We welcome such initiatives. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y help to improve<br />
understanding about issues raised by animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> and reduce secrecy and lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
transparency, which are frequently associated with animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> and which pose a major<br />
39 MORI (2002) <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Animals in Medical Research, Research Study C<strong>on</strong>ducted for <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Coaliti<strong>on</strong> for Medical Progress, p8,<br />
available at: http://www.mori.com/polls/2002/pdf/cmp.pdf. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 14 Apr 2005; MORI (1999) Animals in Medicine and<br />
Science, General Public Research c<strong>on</strong>ducted for Medical Research <str<strong>on</strong>g>Council</str<strong>on</strong>g>, p34, available at:<br />
http://www.mori.com/polls/1999/pdf/mrc99.pdf. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 7 Apr 2005.<br />
40 See, for example, RDS Welcome to RDS Online, available at: http://www.rds-<strong>on</strong>line.org.uk. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 13 Apr 2005; See<br />
also Chapter 1, footnote 5.<br />
41 See Chapter 15, footnote 16.<br />
28