04.08.2017

Ethics on animal in reserach

Aurora Brønstad DVM-PhD – head of animal facility

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The regulations

• Our regulatory framework is based on the premise that it is (morally) accepted for human beings to use other animals for scientific research when there is no alternative to the use of animals, but that it is wrong to cause them unnecessary or avoidable suffering

• The regulations for animals experimentation reflects ethical framework for morally acceptable use of animal in experiments.

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Animal welfare vs animal rights

• Our regulation is based on an “animal welfare” ethical perspective.

• Opposite to a “animal right” perspective • Tom Regan, as a deontologist, argues that at least some animals are "subjects- of-a-life", with beliefs, desires, memories, and a sense of their own future, who must be treated as ends in themselves, not as a means to an end. • Animal rights is the idea that some, or all, non-human animals are entitled to the possession of their own lives, and that their most basic interests – such as an interest in not suffering – should be given the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings.

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LIMITATIONS OF THE REGULATION Included in the circle of moral concerns – and protected by the laws – or not!

Evidence used to decide on the animals that should be regulated (pain, suffering, distress)  complexity of life and behavior  learning ability  functioning of the brain and nervous system  indications of pain or distress  studies illustrating the biological basis of suffering and other feelings such as fear and anxiety  indications of awareness based on observations and experimental work

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LIMITATIONS OF THE REGULATION Included in the circle of moral concerns – and protected by the laws – or not!

• Lobster • Mantis shrimp • Order: Decapoda • Order Stomatopoda Evidence used to decide on the animals that should be regulated (pain, suffering, distress)  complexity of life and behavior  learning ability  functioning of the brain and nervous system  indications of pain or distress  studies illustrating the biological basis of suffering and other feelings such as fear and anxiety  indications of awareness based on observations and experimental work

Protection! No protection! Augut 2017 Care-In 5

Evidence used to decide on the animals that should be regulated (pain, suffering, distress)  complexity of life and behavior  learning ability  functioning of the brain and nervous system  indications of pain or distress  studies illustrating the biological basis of suffering and other feelings such as fear and anxiety  indications of awareness based on observations and experimental work

Protection! No protection! Augut 2017 Care-In 6

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Species and ”Bambi factor”

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Species and ”Bambi factor”

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Species and ”Bambi factor”

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Animal experiments can be acceptable in the following context and conditions

•If it involves medical research (benefit) •If it involves serious/severe disease (benefit) •If there are no other options (No replacements for animals) •If the animals do not suffer (refinements)

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expected Ethical responsibility

Legal responsibility demanded

Economic responsibility

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*CSR- Corporate Social Responsibility

Augut 2017 Care-In

Ethics and use of animals in reserach

«Good scientific practice» To assure validity by focus on experimental design, blinding, randomization choice of controls, choice of statistical method,

Quality

Harm reduction Context

Relevance of the project in light of Reduce or eliminate negative Harm-Benefit assessment impact on animals by replacement, What harm and in which context reduction and refinement

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Ethics and use of animals in reserach

• Harm-Benefit assessment • Based on a harm-benefit evaluation where negative impact (harm) to the animals is justified because of the “greater good for the majority” • This is the basic principle of utilitarian ethics • The proper course of action is the one that maximizes utility • Harm Benefit analysis is based on utilitarian consequence ethics • Principles of the 3Rs • Replacement • Reduction • Refinement • Quality and design • Designing and conducting animal experiments as they provide reliable, valid and reproducible results.

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