As you read in Chapter 4, the use of animals in research studies is well-regulated around the world. In the United States, many animals are protected by the Animal Welfare Act, and any federally-funded research facilities must follow the review policies of IACUCs. In Canada, researchers follow guidance of the CCAC (Canadian Council on Animal Care).
In both the U.S. and Canada, animal research is guided the "Three Rs", Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. You're introduced to these terms in Chapter 4, but here's how journalist Brandon Keim defined them:
Researchers are encouraged to replace animals when alternatives are available, reduce the number of animals used and refine their use so as to minimize the infliction of pain and suffering.
In India, a government body enforces a "Fourth R," Rehabilitation. This means providing care and rehabilitation to animals after they have finished being in experiments. Now this article, published in January 2023 in the New York Times discusses a similar idea in the U.S, including how people are expressing a form of gratitude to animal participants. What do humans owe lab animals?
The journalist tells the story of a person who, after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, came to appreciate that lab-reared monkeys had played a role in the vaccine's development:
“I thought, I’m afraid of a stupid needle,” [Ms. Strohacker] said. “And these animals have to deal with this all the time.” She reflected on how her newfound freedom, and quite possibly her health, came at the expense of animals suffering or dying to develop the vaccines.
Merely being grateful for those animals seemed insufficient; Ms. Strohacker wanted to give something tangible in return. A little online research returned the National Anti-Vivisection Society’s sanctuary fund, which supports the care of retired lab animals. She made a small donation. “To give thanks was the very least I could do,” Ms. Strohacker said.
The Times reports that the COVID-19 vaccines probably helped save 20 million lives in their first year. Some ethicists would argue that animal research may be considered ethical when it does have a clear social benefit; however, even then, the animals must be treated in ways that minimize harm. The Times reports on the view that a fourth R should be "Repayment." Here's an example:
Inklings of the idea of repayment can already be found in the research community, most visibly in laboratories that make arrangements for animals — primarily monkeys and other nonhuman primates — to be retired to sanctuaries. In the case of dogs and companion species, including rats, they are sometimes adopted as pets.
When adoptions are not possible, another option is a memorial. Some research labs provide plaques or public displays of appreciation for animals that have served in their lab.
Another option, especially if an animal was euthanized in the service of research, is to pay it forward:
If someone receives a cornea or a heart from a pig — or funding to study those procedures — then they might pay for the care of another pig at a farmed animal sanctuary, Dr. Sharp proposed: “You’re going to have animals who stand in for the whole.”
“You’re contributing to the group, even if you’re not contributing to the individual,” Dr. Walker said. “That can be really relevant to the animal case.” For example, research on captive axolotls, a critically-endangered species of salamander, has yielded insights into breast cancer, spina bifida and tissue regeneration; in return, people might support efforts to help wild axolotls now struggling to survive in polluted canals in Mexico City.
Other researchers in the story described how they provide better-than-required food and housing for the rats in their research, providing large, naturalistic enclosures and playing with the rats every day.
Questions:
a) It costs money to treat animals well during research and to repay them (or others of their species) after they participate. Who should pay for these expenses?
b) Two cases of alleged animal mistreatment in research have been in the news lately. One is the case of a beagle-breeding facility that was ordered to be closed down. In the other case, Elon Musk's company, Neuralink, is being accused of causing undue distress, pain, and harm to monkeys in allegedly "shoddy" experiment. If you choose, you could research these stories and apply concepts such as the Three Rs to what you find. Specifically, how did these cases violate the Three Rs?
c) Can you think of additional ways, besides those mentioned, to repay the animals that have been involved in psychological and medical research?
