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 />
3.77 In summary, regulati<strong>on</strong> may in some cases act as an emoti<strong>on</strong>al screen between <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>, encouraging scientists (and others who handle <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>) to believe that simply<br />
c<strong>on</strong>forming to regulati<strong>on</strong>s is to act well. Yet, if the animal is regarded as having moral status,<br />
then the <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>er should be made aware that to c<strong>on</strong>duct experiments <strong>on</strong> another being<br />
without c<strong>on</strong>sent is morally problematic. It can be a matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> grave regret which in turn can<br />
prompt measures to reduce the need <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> using <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in this way rather than just because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
regulatory requirements. Some form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong> is accepted by practically all as necessary<br />
for good moral practice. 31 But it is important to be aware that it may not be sufficient.<br />
Summary<br />
3.78 This chapter has aimed to lay out the critical elements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the current moral debate. We have<br />
argued that the following questi<strong>on</strong>s must be c<strong>on</strong>sidered:<br />
i) <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> debate is not best characterised in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the relative moral status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> humans and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> but in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> what features <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> humans and <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> are <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> moral c<strong>on</strong>cern, in the<br />
sense <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> making certain forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment morally problematic.<br />
ii) Once those features are identified, the questi<strong>on</strong> needs to be asked as to how they should<br />
be taken into account in moral reas<strong>on</strong>ing. Are they factors to be weighed against others,<br />
or do they functi<strong>on</strong> as absolute prohibiti<strong>on</strong>s?<br />
iii) Finally, what does it mean to be a moral agent? How should moral agency be c<strong>on</strong>sidered<br />
in the regulatory framework that governs animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>?<br />
In general, we have not attempted to provide answers to these questi<strong>on</strong>s at this stage. We<br />
invite readers to reflect up<strong>on</strong> the discussi<strong>on</strong> and examples provided in the following<br />
chapters in an unbiased way, and in the light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their own c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s thus far. We present<br />
the c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Working Party in Chapters 14 and 15.<br />
CHAPTER 3 ETHICAL ISSUES RAISED BY ANIMAL RESEARCH<br />
31 In additi<strong>on</strong> to positively influencing moral agency, arguments in favour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong> would be that it can (a) promote<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sistency; (b) enhance accountability; (c) act as a counter to commercial pressures; (d) reflect society’s collective morality;<br />
and (e) promote legitimacy. We return to some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these elements in Chapters 14 and 15, see paragraphs 14.53–14.63, 15.14-<br />
–15.15 and 15.53.<br />
57