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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Foreword<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> issues addressed in this Report have been a subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> intense public debate over at least the<br />
past four hundred years. Feelings are str<strong>on</strong>g <strong>on</strong> all sides <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the issues, and in recent years reports<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violent acti<strong>on</strong> against those c<strong>on</strong>ducting animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the UK have brought the matter to<br />
the forefr<strong>on</strong>t <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public attenti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Working Party, like members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public, hold many different and sometimes<br />
opposing views. Nevertheless, the group has been able to c<strong>on</strong>duct its inquiry in an atmosphere<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducive to gaining a better understanding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the scientific and ethical issues involved, and<br />
avoiding the polarisati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> views which has so <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten stifled proper debate. It is in this spirit that<br />
we present our Report.<br />
Throughout the Working Party’s meetings, many varied opini<strong>on</strong>s were quite properly represented<br />
and argued through, and we have tried to analyse the ethical bases <strong>on</strong> which different opini<strong>on</strong>s<br />
are held. A respect for the basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> beliefs different from <strong>on</strong>e's own has enabled members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />
group to agree <strong>on</strong> a c<strong>on</strong>sensus statement and to present c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s and recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
which, while not always necessarily representing the views <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all, do as comprehensively as<br />
possible <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer a clarificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the debate. Where widely different views are held, we have<br />
sought to set them out as clearly as possible. This approach, we believe, should c<strong>on</strong>tribute to fair<br />
and balanced discussi<strong>on</strong>s am<strong>on</strong>g individuals and to decisi<strong>on</strong> making by those in government or<br />
other <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial and regulatory bodies.<br />
We have been c<strong>on</strong>scious that c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s about the use <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>, diverse<br />
as this is, must be seen in the wider c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in food, in clothing, as pets and<br />
as working <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in farming and other occupati<strong>on</strong>s. Science, however, is progressing rapidly in<br />
new technologies such as cl<strong>on</strong>ing, genetic modificati<strong>on</strong> and also in the development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
alternatives to the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Report sets out in some detail the range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> scientific uses<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> including the uses being made <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these new advances. It c<strong>on</strong>siders the ethical issues <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><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> in the light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these developments, the implicati<strong>on</strong>s for regulati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
and the provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> and educati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
As Chair <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Working Group, I would like to record my thanks to all members, who have<br />
worked so hard to produce a Report which, I hope, will genuinely provide helpful analysis and<br />
insight into this topic, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten at great pers<strong>on</strong>al cost. I also thank the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Council</str<strong>on</strong>g> for their help and<br />
advice throughout the two years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Group's work. We all owe a great debt also to the<br />
Secretariat who have taken the burden <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> producing a l<strong>on</strong>g and comprehensive Report, agreed<br />
as fair and balanced by the Group as well as by those who so helpfully read and refereed early<br />
drafts for us. I should like to pay special tribute to Harald Schmidt, Secretary to the Working Party,<br />
whose skills and knowledge were invaluable.<br />
We hope that the Report will be a useful starting point <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reference for all those c<strong>on</strong>cerned with<br />
this important issue in the time ahead.<br />
Bar<strong>on</strong>ess Perry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Southwark<br />
V