Ethics in laboratory animal research

Question 1

What is ethics?

Answer 1

• A research fild within philosophy, a research dicipline at universities
• Philosophical reflection about our morality, about what is “right and wrong”
• the more theoretical or abstract reasoning

Question 2

What is morality?

Answer 2

Differes between cultures

everyday “right and wrong”

Self-evident attitudes

everybody has a morality

Question 3

What is legislation?

Answer 3

• right and wrong in a legal sense
• legal norms, enforced by legislative system in each country
• always based on ethics, or at least on values and principles hold by the society

Question 4

Name the two bases for ethical thinking

Answer 4

• consistency
  
  • if one is to distinguish ethically between situation A and situation B one needs to be able to point to a relevant difference that justifies this
• no privileges
  
  • ethical norms and principles proposed shall not favorise myself or my friends, but be of universal character.
    Unless there are valid differences

Question 5

What is the paradox in animal experimentation?

Answer 5

We use animals in medical research

• since they are similar enough to give relevant results
• since they are different enough to justify the suffering and pain we cause

Question 6

Of how many members does the Animal Ethics Committee in Sweden consist?

Answer 6

15 in total

• 6 scientists
• 6 laymen
• 2 lawyers
• One who writes the protocol
• appointed by the swedish board of agriculture

Question 7

What are the 5Rs?

Answer 7

• the 3Rs and two other issues that came up with the use of GM animals
• responsibility
• respect
  
  • for ethical dilemma
  • for ethical paradox
  • for life