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Summary of the NYMC White Paper

NYMC Dog Lab Report

Frequently Asked Questions: Animal Use in Medical School Education

Comments from Education Professionals and Physicians

Update: New York Medical College Ends Live Animal Lab

Success! New York Medical College announced November 26 that it will replace its live animal lab for its first-year physiology course with non-animal alternatives. Students will now undergo echocardiograms while instructors demonstrate physiology principles. NYMC was the last school in New York state to use live animals in student education. You can learn more about the school's decision by watching coverage by News 12 or reading this story in the Journal News.

Twenty years ago, live animals were commonly used in physiology, pharmacology, and surgery classes at medical schools. A standard lab involved anesthetizing the animal, followed by injecting pharmaceuticals or practicing surgical techniques. After the class, the animal was killed.

Fortunately, most schools have eliminated live animal labs from their curricula altogether. Innovations in medical simulation technology, availability of alternatives, increased awareness of ethical concerns, and a growing acknowledgement that medical training must be human-focused have all facilitated this shift. Only 10 schools still use live animals (dogs or pigs) in their curricula, and only one—Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine—uses dogs.

Learn more about live animal labs and what you can do to help end them. If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Merkley at rmerkley@pcrm.org or 202-686-2210, ext 336. Thank you so much for taking action.