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CASE STUDY: Recovery and Multiple Use

One IACUC member argues that the protocol should go forward because the method of euthanasia used by the slaughter house, penetrating captive bolt, is among the list of methods approved by AVMA.

This choice is ethically prohibited.

The primary responsibility of IACUC is to protect the welfare of animals. Allowing the animals to recover from a major surgery so that the animal can be slaughtered for food is contrary to the animal's welfare. Reserving the animals for use as human food is neither a scientific nor educational purpose that can be used as a balance against the animal's welfare.

It is also likely that the cost of a two-week recovery period would not be offset by the sale of the pigs for meat.

In addition, if the pigs are to be sold for human food purposes, the pigs must receive only drugs that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the use of the drugs must be withdrawn for a period of time prior to the animals being sold for food.

Last of all, IACUC must be concerned with public perceptions regarding animal use. It is not likely that the use of research animals for human food with pass the publicity test. If IACUC is not comfortable with the thought of defending the protocol publicly, the committee should not approve the protocol.

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