13.07.2015 Views

Contents

Contents

Contents

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

80 PART I: General IssuesFIGURE 3.8Ethical guidelines for the use of animals in research address how animals may be treated before,during, and after they are tested.sponsored by the APA Committee on Animal Research and Ethics (CARE) athttp://www.apa.org/science/leadership/care/index.aspx.Research with animals is a highly regulated enterprise with the overridinggoal of protecting the welfare of research animals. Only individuals qualifiedto do research and to manage and care for the particular species should be allowedto work with the animals. Animals may be subjected to pain or discomfortonly when alternative procedures are not available and when the scientific,educational, or applied goals justify the procedures. As we noted earlier, animalreview boards (IACUCs) are now in place at research facilities that receivefunds from the U.S. Public Health Service. These committees determine the adequacyof the procedures for controlling pain, carrying out euthanasia, housinganimals, and training personnel. IACUCs also determine whether experimentaldesigns are sufficient to gain important new information and whether the use ofan animal model is appropriate or whether nonanimal models (e.g., computersimulations) could be used (Holden, 1987).As with any ethically sensitive issue, however, compromises must be madewith regard to the use of animals in research. For example, until alternatives toanimal research can be found, the need to conduct research using animal subjectsin order to battle human disease and suffering must be balanced againstthe need to protect the welfare of animals in laboratory research (Goodall,1987). As APA’s former chief executive officer, Raymond Fowler, pointed out,it is also important that the use of animal subjects not be restricted when theapplication of the research is not immediately apparent (Fowler, 1992). “Thecharge that animal research is of no value because it cannot always be linked topotential applications is a charge that can be made against all basic research.”Such an indictment “threatens the intellectual and scientific foundation” of allpsychology, including both “scientists and practitioners” (p. 2).Although few scientists disagree that restrictions are necessary to preventneedless suffering in animals, most want to avoid a quagmire of bureaucraticrestrictions and high costs that will undermine research. Feeney (1987) suggeststhat severe restrictions and high costs, as well as the negative publicity

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!