Ethical issues using Animals in Lab experiments

Question 1

Number of animals used

Answer 1

• Must be kept to a minimum
• not reduce to so few that results become invalid
• use fewer animals if the species is exotic or expensive to maintain
• previous work should be used to estimate numbers

Question 2

rules on anaesthetics

Answer 2

• any procedure likliy to cause pain requires it

- must be administered by a qualified proffesional to avoid unneecessary pain

Question 3

using non-animal alternatives where possible

Answer 3

-such as computer simulations, Video recordings and research on humans should be considered first

Question 4

avoiding discomfort and stress

Answer 4

• If an animal has been used ina study involving stress it must never be used again
• pain minimised through analgesia and if continued pain euthanasia should be used
• Must be considered that some species are less responsive to pain but should still be helped not just assume there is no pain

Question 5

care over caging and social environment

Answer 5

• Must be sutiable for the specific species and licenced
• care for animals 24 hour a day
• researchers must be familiarised with handling of different species