LAT 03: Ethics in Animal Research (2021)

The three R’s are:

Replacement: Can animals be replaced by non-animal alternatives or less sentient species without interfering with the objectives of the study?
Reduction: Can fewer animals be used without altering the validity of the study data?
Refinement: Can the procedures used in the study be refined to lessen pain and distress or minimize the number of potentially painful procedures that the animals must undergo during the study?

The US Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training are applied to research funded by federal grants. These principles espouse some core values regarding the ethical treatment of laboratory animals:

The use of animals in research should be scientifically relevant and appropriate.
Animals used in research should be maintained in a way that provides them with as much physical and psychological well-being as possible.
Animals used in research should not be subjected to unnecessary pain and distress. If these effects are unavoidable, efforts should be made to minimize the extent and duration of the pain and distress.
If severe pain in animals cannot be relieved, they should be humanely euthanized in order to end their suffering.

Table 3.1. Process for making ethical decisions regarding laboratory animal treatment

Step	Example
1. Identify the issue of concern.	An animal is in unrelieved pain.
2. Gather and assess all the facts involved.	What are the animal's signs and symptoms?
3. Identify the individuals and groups affected by the issue, and the impact the issue has on each.	The institution, the IACUC, PI, research staff, animal care staff could all be affected.
4. Identify values that play a role in the decision.	Weigh the effects of what would be the most humane course of action for the animal against the value of continuing the animal in the study.
5. Identify and evaluate possible solutions.	Possible courses of action include euthanizing the animal, administering analgesics, and removing the animal from the study.
6. Decide on a course of action.	The PI, the veterinarian, and potentially the IACUC confer and reach a decision on an action to resolve the issue. The technician contributes to the decision-making process by having reported the issue.