The use of animals in research animal ethics Flashcards
How many animals are used in the UK for research?
- 4.14 million
- for each person:
- 4 mice
- 1 fish
- 1/2 rat
What arer some uses of animals in research?
- Alzheimer’s vaccine
- Gene therapy for muscular dystrophy
- cystic fibrosis
- sickle cell disease
- stem cells for spinal cord, heart repair (mice, rats)
- COVID-19 vaccine (Malaria vaccine - mice, monkeys)
When was cosmetic testing on animals banned in the UK?
- 1997
- Europe wide ban in 2010
What are some legal protections of animals?
1876 - Cruelty to Animals Act
- Licensing and regulation of experiments
- 1911- Protection of Animals Act
- protection of both domestic and captive animals against acts of cruelty
- 1966 - Veterinary Surgeons Act
- only a qualified vet surgeon registered wirh the RCVS can carry out diagnosis, medical and surgical treatments
- 1981- Animal health Act
- provides for disease prevention and containment in animals ; protection against spread of disease e.g foot and mouth
- 1986 Animals (Scientific procedures) Act
- 1997 Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order
What is a procedure?
anything that might cause:
- pain
- distress
- suffering
- lasting harm
What is the Animals Scientific procedures Act (1986)??
Underlying principles:
- animals bred, supplied and used for scientific procedures are cared for in accordance with the best standards of modern animal husbandry
What are the underlying principles of the ASP Act 1986?
3Rs: Reduction, Refinement and Replacement
What is the law on animal research?
Gov says:
“We have legislated so experimentation is only permitted when there is no alternative research technique and the expected benefits outweigh any possible adverse effects
How are animal procedures licenced?
1.) Certificate of designation (PCD) - aurhorses the premises/establishment
2.) AWERB : Animal welfare and ethical review board - authorises the need for the project
3.) Project licence (PPL) - authorises the need for the project and each experimental technique
4.) Personal licence (PIL) - Authorises the persons conducting the experiment
What is the AWERB?
- Certificate holder (Chair)
- Director of the Biomedical Services Unit
- Named Veterinary Surgeon
- Academic members of staff with experience of biomed research involving animals
- Lay members
What do ethical reveiews require?
- that all alternatives to the use of animals have been investigated before proposing the use of anumals for experimental research
- potential benefits of the research are justified against the likely costs to the animals; includes justification of the choice of species and number of animals used
- all aspects of the care and use of animals followed accepted best practice guidelines
What is a project licence?
- defines specific objectives
- itemises the benefits
- outline the ‘plan of work’
- details + justifies the experimental protocols
- identifies the possible adverse effects
- sets the severity limits for procedures and the project
What is severity?
the maximum level of suffering suffered by an animal during a procedure
How to justify the numbers of animals
-minimum necesssary to achieve a statistically meaningful outcome
- can’t be too few
- power calculations
- experiments with insufficient statistical power may not be justidied
- so ethical review process and funding bodies require power calculations in advance of studies
What is a personal licence?
- requires appropriate prior education (up to degree level)
- training course - theoretical and practical skills taught and examined
- supervision from senior colleagues
