10.21 Using Animals in Biomedical Research
- biomedical research--using animals to learn about human body, diseases, treatments
- drug testing (vaccines, drugs)--using animals to determine safety for the benefit of humans
- product testing (household products, cosmetics) --using animals to determine safety for the benefit of humans
- human psychology research--doing research on animals to learn about human psychology
- veterinary research--doing research on animals to benefit animals
- animal psychology research--doing research on animals to learn about animal minds....but to satisfy human desire for knowledge
Animal research that saves lives
- Jonas Salk and polio vaccine research (Kazez 188-193)
- 57,000 cases of polio in 1952; 3,000 died; 21,000 left with some paralysis
- 100,000 monkeys killed in research; no benefit for monkeys; for typing study, they were infected by drilling hole in head; after vaccine developed, tested on monkeys; after monkeys, disabled kids in "homes".
- Coronavirus vaccine research
- basic research on covid-19 (May 12) done on mice, rats, hamsters, ferrets, monkeys, baboons
- vaccine candidates now being tried on human volunteers in US
- UK has proposed trials of vaccine candidates on humans volunteers who are "challenged" with virus--i.e. deliberately infected
- same sort of research has already been done on monkeys, but animal researchers want to do more monkey trials
- Americans for Medical Progress (animal research advocacy organization) uses covid-19 in advocacy
- Modern Research Facility Tour
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| http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug/24/north-texan-one-of-10-still-living-in-iron-lung/ |
Responses
- Stop, whatever the costs to us (D&K)
- Stop, no costs to us (Mylan Engel, next time)
- Do only necessary research, stronger regulations needed
- Carte blanche, stronger regulations not needed
- human psychology research -- Harry Harlow - video (Kazez pp. 193-197) Variations on a theme (p. 143). Well of despair studies (p. 194).
- biomedical research (#1) -- Research Facility Tour (PETA undercover video)
- household products and cosmetics are tested on animals at the discretion of companies
- Draize test
ANIMAL WELFARE ACT
History
1966 -Sports Illustrated and Life Magazine articles lead to AWA
- main point of AWA is to prevent lost pets being used in animal labs
- requires adequate food and housing
- Anesthetics have to be used during surgery; analgesics have to be offered for pain relief.
- More venues covered (circuses and zoos, but not pet stores, pet shows, and rodeos)
- Provisions for institutional animal care committees (IACUCs)
- dogs must have exercise, primates must have psychological enrichment
Silver Spring Maryland - Dr Edward Taub severs nerves to arms to study nervous system healing - PETA co-founder Alex Pacheco takes undercover position and films - testifies in 1981 congressional hearings
University of Pennsylania - Head injury lab - baboons had their heads crushed in crash simulator - 64 hours of film obtained during raid by Animal Liberation Front - PETA produces film
2002, 2007, 2008 - more amendments
- "animal" explicitly defined so that rats, mice, birds, and reptiles are not covered
- prohibition on animal fighting
Today's Animal Welfare Act
- Animal Welfare Act
- applies to research animals, not not all species, and not federal labs
- applies to circuses, zoos, aquaria, but not rodeos
- applies to transport of farm animals, but not farms👫👫👫
- applies to large breeders, but not to retail outlets or animal shelters
- Today's Animal Welfare Act - Highlights (follow link)
- Overview at Wikipedia
Questions about IACUCs (institutional animal care and use committees)
- Are they really ethics committees? (see John Young in research facility video)
- How do they compare to human subject review committees?
- How are animals protected, compared to children?
- Do IACUCs judge balance between animal costs and human benefits?
- Do IACUCs ever veto experiments on ethical grounds?