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 />
Hybrid frameworks<br />
3.58 Hybrid frameworks c<strong>on</strong>tain some elements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the c<strong>on</strong>sequentialist theory, and some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />
de<strong>on</strong>tological approach. Most views in the current debate are <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this form, even if there is great<br />
disagreement about the details. One prominent example <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a hybrid view, although in itself not<br />
explicitly a philosophical approach, is the current UK regulatory regime, which we discuss here<br />
briefly, both for its own sake and as an illustrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a hybrid view (Chapter 13 addresses<br />
regulatory aspects in more detail). <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> suggesti<strong>on</strong> that the current UK regulati<strong>on</strong>s are hybrid<br />
may cause some surprise, as it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten assumed that in its use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a cost-benefit assessment<br />
current regulati<strong>on</strong>s are utilitarian. This is a serious philosophical error, as we shall see.<br />
3.59 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> current regulatory framework in the UK requires that any <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> vertebrate<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> (and the comm<strong>on</strong> octopus) 21 which may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting<br />
harm must be licensed (see paragraphs 13.8-13.18). A licence is not required where no harm<br />
will be caused or when the <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> involves <strong>on</strong>ly invertebrates (excluding the comm<strong>on</strong><br />
octopus). Harmful experiments for the sake <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> mass entertainment (such as televisi<strong>on</strong><br />
entertainment) are prohibited by law, and <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> for the producti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
new cosmetic ingredients is also not permitted (see paragraph 13.6). 22 Although not<br />
prohibited directly by law, licences for any <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g> the great apes (gorillas,<br />
chimpanzees, pygmy chimpanzees and orang-utans) are not granted as a matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> current<br />
policy. In order for licences for specific <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> projects to be issued, the law requires that<br />
the likely benefits <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, and the likely costs to the <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, are c<strong>on</strong>sidered; that<br />
‘the regulated procedures to be used are those which use the minimum number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
involve <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> with the lowest degree <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> neurophysiological sensitivity, cause the least<br />
pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm, and are most likely to produce satisfactory results’; 23<br />
and that there are no available alternatives to achieving the goals <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the experiment<br />
without using protected <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> (paragraph 13.17).<br />
3.60 Pain and suffering <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> are treated with great seriousness in the current UK<br />
legislati<strong>on</strong>. For example, licences may not be granted for <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> that is ‘likely to cause<br />
severe pain or distress that cannot be alleviated’. 24 Where possible, potentially harmful<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> must be c<strong>on</strong>ducted under anaesthetic or with the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pain relieving medicines.<br />
By c<strong>on</strong>trast, animal death, if brought about without pain or suffering, is regarded as a far<br />
less serious matter. Animals that are not used in regulated procedures but killed humanely<br />
to obtain tissue samples or because they are surplus to requirements are excluded from the<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trols <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A (see 13.26). 25<br />
3.61 In summary:<br />
■ <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> morally relevant features identified above (sentience, higher cognitive capacities,<br />
flourishing, sociability and the value <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> life) are all c<strong>on</strong>sidered in the current regulati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
21 More precisely, protected <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> comprise all vertebrates and members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the comm<strong>on</strong> octopus species including fetal,<br />
larval or embry<strong>on</strong>ic forms from the mid-gestati<strong>on</strong>al or mid-incubati<strong>on</strong> period <strong>on</strong>wards for mammals, birds and reptiles, or in<br />
any other case, from the stage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> development when the <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> become capable <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> independent feeding.<br />
22 Note that animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> for the testing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> new household cleaners that differ insignificantly from already-marketed<br />
products is not prohibited.<br />
23 A(SP)A, Secti<strong>on</strong> 5, 5(b).<br />
24 Home Office (2000) Guidance <strong>on</strong> the Operati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A 1986 (L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong>: TSO), paragraph 5.42. This refers to Secti<strong>on</strong><br />
10(2A) and Schedule 2A <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A which states that ‘All experiments shall be carried out under general or local<br />
anaesthesia’. Excepti<strong>on</strong>s exist when anaesthesia use is incompatible with the object <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the experiment. In such cases,<br />
Schedule 2A (Article 8 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Directive 86/609/EEC) specifies that ‘appropriate legislative and/or administrative measures shall be<br />
taken to ensure that no such experiment is carried out unnecessarily’. Schedule 2A was imposed <strong>on</strong> the A(SP)A by the<br />
(Amendment) Regulati<strong>on</strong>s 1998.<br />
25 Schedule 1 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the A(SP)A sets out ‘Appropriate methods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> humane killing’.<br />
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