An animal life used for medical science is not a discardable existence. Yet our international community disregards unnecessary suffering as it maintains a status quo of chaos and disorganization.
Like a strategic administrative assistant flown in from overseas to an academic medicine department hiring to do ‘whatever the doctor wants me to’, chaos and disorganization may serve the unsupervised, unscrupulous researcher. Chaos and disorganization creates circumstances in which some can do whatever they want. However, only structured principles and rules allow us to advance data into medicine practice. So only structured principles and rules should guide the involvement of other life forms, particularly those that experience pain and emotion.
Global structure around the use of animals in medical science should encompass all biological science. Rules and requirements will always receive knee-jerk pushback, so we should start confidently, definitively and clearly.
Minimal paths forward should require:
Assessment of current national laws, consequences and metrics on law enforcement activities around animal use in biological science. Establish liaisons and survey countries.
Assessment of international agreements where animal rights and avoidance of suffering fit in. Assign an international organization this task, with country outreach when necessary.
A third-party literature review of the limitations and advantages of animal life in biological science. Assign an international organization this task, with country outreach when necessary.
A third-party white paper on medical research recommendations for animal model use, as well as definitive methodology in which animal models inclusion is inappropriate. Assign an international organization this task, with country outreach when necessary.
An international report on indicators to evaluate animal suffering and pain. Survey countries on animal compassion and culture. Assign an international organization the task of the report.
An international honesty around the serious threat that animal research may pose to humans. Like any other threat, the risk of harm is greater with negligence. And, an institution or country negligent on animal compassion is a risk for negligence in the lab. Animals models within negligent walls increase risk to human health. Survey countries on rules, codes, records of violations, consequences and country perspective on advancing animal research safety alongside quality to animal care. Measure the philanthropic funding and determine how it is tied, if at all, to animal welfare.
Consensus around international medical science laboratory credentialing that includes: on site inspection, inspector bias and ethics assurances, mechanisms to anonymously report animal abuse and ongoing quality assurance to the animal model use. Survey countries on rules, codes, records of violations, consequences and country perspective on advancing animal research safety alongside quality to animal care. Measure the philanthropic funding and animal welfare ties.
Assessment of primate use, allowance and regulation by country, with international consensus the ultimate goal. Assign an international agency this task, account for philanthropic and government research funding, request evidence and evidence-based research guidelines, and gain raw numbers of primates. Report on primate breeder and regulation processes by country. Determine risk metrics, with weight for regulation, oversight and animal wellbeing, and assign countries a grade. Determine this with countries at the table.
United Nations oversight of animal abuse and animal use in medical science, tied to biological science.
Medicine and science is only as progressive as its ability to shield from chaos. Rules and regulations shield the professions from enticing, chaotic laboratory research. We can envision the next two to three decades ahead as we secure animal safety and guard against animal suffering in medical science. And, when we envision the decades to come, let us prioritize our logical minds as well as our interconnected hearts.
For most of us, in our hearts, we don’t want to hurt animals.
Our hearts know what is right, and we may as well ask our minds to design for this. Let’s ensure the shield encompasses all creatures, great and small.
Decades from now, having our priorities straight will be the ultimate act of brotherly love, as well as the ultimate act for any bracket of love.
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