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InterNICHE Co-ordinator
Nick Jukes 42 South Knighton Road Leicester LE2 3LP England Tel/Fax +44 116 2109652 coordinator@interniche.org |
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InterNICHE Policy on the Use of Animals and Alternatives in Education This Policy addresses the use of animals and alternatives in education. It defines 'alternatives' and 'harm', and presents specific policies addressing dissection, the sourcing of animal cadavers and tissue, and the use of live animals in the clinic and the field, from the perspective of designing and carrying out practical classes. It also presents a specific policy on the use of animals for making alternatives. To facilitate replacement of harmful animal use in other circumstances, further specific policies describe the conditions for acceptable compromise relating to the sourcing of animal cadavers and tissue, and the use of live animals for making alternatives.
1. Position statement InterNICHE supports a high quality humane education within the life sciences, and the use of alternatives to meet teaching objectives. InterNICHE is against all harmful use of animals in education, including the harming and killing of animals for their cadavers and tissue, for live experimentation and skills training, for ethology and field studies, and for making alternatives.
Alternatives are humane educational aids and teaching approaches that can replace harmful animal use or complement existing humane education. Alternatives may be non-animal alternatives, or approaches that involve neutral or beneficial work with animals. They comprise:
• Film and
video Harm comprises any action, deliberate or otherwise, that impinges on an animal’s current and future well-being by denying or limiting any of the following freedoms:
• Freedom
to live Harm caused to an animal within education is only acceptable when it is the unavoidable consequence of action taken to benefit the individual animal, and in certain circumstances when the action is taken to benefit the species or to produce an alternative, given the harm inflicted is only brief and minor (see 7, 8, 9, 10). In these cases, cost-benefit analyses concerning harm and potential benefit to the individual animal, the species, and to other animals, should be conducted.
InterNICHE accepts that animal dissection can be a useful tool for knowledge and skills acquisition, and may encourage an appreciation of life, when all of the following conditions are met: 4.1 The animal cadaver is ethically-sourced (see 5) 4.2 The dissection is performed at the university level, and no lower 4.3 The dissection is relevant for the student’s career 4.4 The student’s ethical position concerning dissection is respected 4.5 The dissection is performed within the context of respect for life and respect for the cadaver 4.6 The dissection is complemented by observation of free-living animals of the same species, wherever possible 4.7 Instructors are ethically aware and responsible, and have appropriate training and competence for all activity and procedures that involve animals 4.8 Ethics, including animal rights and welfare, animal use, alternatives, and the human-animal bond, are explored openly and fully
InterNICHE is against all harmful use of animals in education, including the harming and killing of animals for sourcing cadavers and tissue. Such material may provide a useful resource for knowledge and skills acquisition, however, and InterNICHE accepts its use when it has been ethically sourced. InterNICHE recognises an animal cadaver or tissue as ethically-sourced when all of the following conditions are met: 5.1
The animal was not captured, bought, bred, kept, harmed or killed to
provide the cadaver or tissue 5.3 The animal died from natural causes or an accident, or was humanely euthanised secondary to natural terminal disease or serious non-recoverable injury (see 5.4) 5.4 The decision to euthanise the animal was made by a qualified veterinarian with consent of the animal’s guardian (if any), based on the interests of the animal and not motivated by practical or financial interests 5.5 Consent for the animal cadaver or tissue to be used in education has been given by the animal’s guardian (if any) 5.6 Ethically-sourced tissue from living animals comprises only left-over tissue deriving from beneficial surgery or clinical procedures, and scheduled for disposal; or tissue deriving from natural activity such as giving birth, and abandoned by the animal 5.7 Neither the cadaver nor the tissue is needed for the clinical benefit of another animal, or for the benefit of the species 5.8 Those involved in the process of sourcing are ethically aware and responsible, and have apropriate training and competence for all activity and procedures that involve animals 5.9 All stages of the process of sourcing are carried out within the context of respect for life and respect for the cadaver or tissue; and to the highest ethical, welfare, health and safety standards
Animal cadavers and tissue are usually obtained from sources where animals suffer harm or are killed, such as animal breeders, research facilities, some animal shelters, farms, slaughterhouses and sporting events. InterNICHE does not consider material from these sources, including so-called ‘waste’ or ‘surplus’ material, to be ethically-sourced: its ethical nature has been compromised or negated by the harming, killing and/or marketing of the animal at some stage of his/her life. However, cadavers and tissue from species of animal that are less common as wild, stray, or companion animals, may be hard to source ethically. In these cases, other sources of material, such as the above, may in certain circumstances provide an appropriate solution to the ethical challenge. Deriving animal cadavers and tissue from other sources is an acceptable compromise, when all of the following conditions are met: 6.1 Animal cadavers or tissue are genuinely required for practical work or for making an alternative, and no ethically-sourced and appropriate material is available 6.2 The animal was not captured, bought, bred, kept, harmed or killed to provide the cadaver or tissue 6.3 The animal has died from natural causes or an accident, or was humanely euthanised secondary to natural terminal disease or serious non-recoverable injury; or the cadaver or tissue is destined for disposal, or has been abandoned by the animal (see 6.4) 6.4 The decision to euthanise the animal was made by a qualified veterinarian with consent of the animal’s guardian (if any), based on the interests of the animal and not motivated by practical or financial interests 6.5 Neither the cadaver nor the tissue is needed for the clinical benefit of another animal or for the benefit of the species 6.6 The process of sourcing provides zero support and validation for activity involving animal harm or killing, and no market for the material is created or supported 6.7 Those involved in the process of sourcing are ethically aware and responsible, and have appropriate training and competence for all activity and procedures that involve animals 6.8 All stages of the process of sourcing are carried out within the context of respect for life and respect for the cadaver or tissue; and to the highest ethical, welfare, health and safety standards
InterNICHE considers the use of live animals in the clinical setting to be an integral part of knowledge and skills acquisition for veterinary students, acceptable when all of the following conditions are met: 7.1 Opportunities for clinical skills and surgery training are built around the needs and well-being of individual wild, stray and companion animal patients, and healthy companion animal volunteers 7.2 The animal is not captured, bought, bred, kept, harmed or killed for the purpose of training, except for harm and/or euthanasia in certain circumstances with animal patients (see 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8) 7.3 Clinical skills training with a companion animal volunteer is beneficial or neutral in its effect on the individual animal, with rewards not punishment given as encouragement; and the training stopped whenever fear or discomfort is evidenced 7.4 The clinical procedure and/or treatment chosen for an animal patient is the most appropriate and best possible for the well-being of the individual animal, and is aimed at healing, unless the animal requires euthanasia 7.5 Harm caused to an animal patient during a clinical procedure and/or treatment is acceptable when it is the minimum harm necessary for successful work aimed at healing the animal; and in certain circumstances during procedures involving an animal that is suffering from natural terminal disease or serious non-recoverable injury; or when it comprises the act of humane euthanasia (see 7.6, 7.7, 7.8) 7.6 Clinical skills and surgery training that involves a terminal procedure is acceptable only when an animal is suffering from natural terminal disease or serious non-recoverable injury; and for whom a decision to euthanise has been made by a qualified veterinarian with the consent of the animal’s guardian (if any), based on the interests of the animal and not motivated by practical or financial interests (see 7.7, 7.8) 7.7 Harm caused during an invasive and/or terminal procedure on an animal that is suffering from natural terminal disease or serious non-recoverable injury is acceptable only when the harm is not subjectively experienced by the animal (e.g. under general anaesthesia); and when it comprises the act of humane euthanasia (see 7.8) 7.8 Euthanasia is acceptable when an animal is suffering from natural terminal disease or serious non-recoverable injury; and for whom the decision to euthanise has been made by a qualified veterinarian with the consent of the animal’s guardian (if any), based on the interests of the animal and not motivated by practical or financial interests 7.9 The student’s ethical position concerning the use of live animals in the clinical setting is respected 7.10 Instructors are ethically aware and responsible, and have appropriate training and competence for all activity and procedures that involve animals 7.11 Clinical skills and surgery training with an animal patient or companion animal volunteer should be supervised by a qualified instructor at all times 7.12 The student should have the appropriate level of skills mastery, accomplished using nonanimal alternatives, prior to participation in clinical skills and surgery training with an animal patient or companion animal volunteer 7.13 All elements of clinical skills and surgery training are carried out within the context of respect for life and respect for the animal; and to the highest ethical, welfare, health and safety standards 7.14 Ethics, including animal rights and welfare, animal use, alternatives, and the human-animal bond, are explored openly and fully
InterNICHE considers the educational study of free-living wild or stray animals to be a valuable experience, acceptable when all of the following conditions are met: 8.1 Opportunities for field studies are built around the needs and well-being of individual wild and stray animals, animal species, and the ecosystem 8.2 The animal is not captured, bought, bred, kept, harmed or killed for the purpose of the study, except for capture and/or harm in certain circumstances that are beneficial to the individual animal, species or ecosystem (see 8.4, 8.5) 8.3 Field studies should cause zero or minimal disturbance to an animal, his/her social structure and the ecosystem; or have a beneficial impact on an animal, species or ecosystem 8.4 Capture and/or harm caused to an animal is acceptable only when the animal is a patient, or will benefit from a clinical procedure; and in certain circumstances for the benefit of the species or ecosystem (see 8.5) 8.5 Capture and/or harm caused to an animal for the benefit of the species or ecosystem is acceptable only when it comprises minor, temporary harm and/or capture of very short duration, with no physical pain; and should not jeopardise the animal’s future well-being 8.6 Field studies should avoid threatened or endangered species and ecosystems, unless considerable benefit for an individual animal, species or ecosystem is expected to be derived 8.7 The student’s ethical position concerning the study of wild and stray animals is respected 8.8 The use of cadavers and tissue from wild and stray animals accords with the ‘Policy on ethical sourcing of animal cadavers and tissue’ or ‘Policy on other sourcing of animal cadavers and tissue’ (see 5, 6) 8.9 Clinical work with wild or stray animals accords with the ‘Policy on live animal use for clinical skills and surgery training’ (see 7) 8.10 The use of wild or stray animals for making alternatives accords with the ‘Policy on the ethical use of live animals, animal cadavers and tissue for making alternatives’ or ‘Policy on the other use of live animals, animal cadavers and tissue for making alternatives’ (see 9, 10) 8.11 Instructors are ethically and environmentally aware and responsible, and have appropriate training and competence for all activity that involves animals and that impacts on ecosystems 8.12 Field studies should be supervised by a qualified instructor at all times 8.13 All elements of field studies are carried out within the context of respect for life, respect for the animal, species and ecosystem; and to the highest ethical, welfare, health and safety standards 8.14 Ethics, including environmental ethics, animal rights and welfare, animal use, alternatives, and the human-animal bond, are explored openly and fully
InterNICHE is against all harmful use of animals in education, including that for the creation of alternatives. If a live animal or animal cadaver or tissue is required for making an alternative, InterNICHE accepts this use when all of the following conditions are met: 9.1 An alternative for the practical does not already exist or is not practicably available 9.2 The animal is not captured, bought, bred, kept, harmed or killed for the purpose of making the alternative, except for harm and/or euthanasia in certain circumstances during procedures involving invasive and/or terminal live animal use (see 9.4, 9.5) 9.3 The animal cadaver or tissue is ethically-sourced (see 5) 9.4 Invasive and/or terminal live animal use is acceptable only when an animal is suffering from natural terminal disease or serious non-recoverable injury; and for whom a decision to euthanise has already been made by a qualified veterinarian with the consent of the animal’s guardian (if any), based on the interests of the animal and not motivated by practical or financial interests (see 9.5) 9.5 Harm caused during an invasive and/or terminal procedure on an animal is acceptable only when the harm is not subjectively experienced by the animal (e.g. under general anaesthesia); and when it comprises the act of humane euthanasia 9.6 All persons involved in making alternatives are ethically aware and responsible, and have appropriate training and competence for all activity and procedures that involve animals 9.7 All stages of the process of making the alternative are carried out within the context of respect for life, respect for the live animal, animal cadaver or tissue; and to the highest ethical, welfare, health and safety standards
Live animals and animal cadavers and tissue used in the process of making alternatives are usually obtained from sources where animals suffer harm or are killed, such as animal breeders, research facilities and farms. InterNICHE does not support using these sources for live animals, animal cadavers and tissue, as their ethical nature has been compromised or negated by the harming, killing and/or marketing of the animal at some stage of his/her life. When a wild, stray or companion animal suffering from terminal disease or serious non-recoverable injury is not available for invasive and/or terminal live use for making an alternative, then deriving so-called ‘waste’ or ‘surplus’ live animals from other sources, such as the above, may in certain circumstances provide an appropriate solution to the ethical challenge. Similarly, when an ethically-sourced animal cadaver or tissue is not available, then other sources may provide a solution. Deriving a live animal for use in invasive and/or terminal procedures, or an animal cadaver or tissue, from other sources, is an acceptable compromise for the purpose of making an alternative when all of the following conditions are met: 10.1 An alternative for the practical does not already exist or is not practicably available 10.2 The animal is genuinely required for making the alternative, and no ethical source of a live animal or animal cadaver or tissue is available 10.3 The alternative to be made will replace harmful animal use in education, and will be available for other students to use 10.4 The live animal was destined for killing or slaughter before being sourced, and was not captured, bought, bred, harmed or killed for use in making the alternative, except for harm and / or euthanasia in certain circumstances during procedures involving invasive and /or terminal live animal use (see 10.5, 10.6, 10.8, 10.9) 10.5 If live animal use is required, priority is given to the sourcing and use of an animal when he/she is suffering from natural terminal disease or serious non-recoverable injury; and for whom a decision to euthanise has already been made by a qualified veterinarian with consent of the animal’s guardian (if any), based on the interests of the animal and not motivated by practical or financial interests (see 10.8, 10.9) 10.6 If an animal could be recovered and rehomed, then he/she should be recovered and rehomed, and not used for a terminal procedure or one that will necessitate euthanasia 10.7 All other sourcing of a live animal and invasive non-terminal live animal use should result in some direct or indirect benefit for the animal, such as being saved from euthanasia, being neutered during a procedure, and being recovered and rehomed 10.8 All invasive live animal use should cause zero additional harm to the animal, and should not jeopardise the animal’s future well-being, except in certain circumstances during procedures involving an animal that is suffering from natural terminal disease or serious non-recoverable injury (see 10.9) 10.9 Harm caused during an invasive and/or terminal procedure on an animal is acceptable only when the harm is not subjectively experienced by the animal (e.g. under general anaesthesia); and when it comprises the act of humane euthanasia 10.10 The sourcing of animal cadavers and tissue accords with the ‘Policy on ethical sourcing of animal cadavers and tissue’ or ‘Policy on other sourcing of animal cadavers and tissue’ (see 5, 6) 10.11 The process of sourcing provides zero support and validation for activity involving animal harm or killing, and no market for the animals is created or supported 10.12 All persons involved in making alternatives are ethically aware and responsible, and have appropriate training and competence for all activity and procedures that involve animals 10.13 All stages of the process of sourcing are carried out within the context of respect for life and respect for the animal; and to the highest ethical, welfare, health and safety standards
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About InterNICHE