Medical Schools Notified That Live Animal Use Is Unlawful

Twelve medical schools across the country have received letters from PCRM notifying them that their use of live animals in student training is unlawful under the federal Animal Welfare Act because alternatives are readily available. These schools are among the 19 U.S. medical schools that still use live dog or pig laboratories in physiology or surgery classes.

The letters were sent to each school’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) by PCRM medical advisor John J. Pippin, M.D., F.A.C.C. The letter stated that the Animal Welfare Act mandates the consideration of non-animal alternatives when alternatives are adequate for the stated purpose.

The large majority of medical schools in the country, including Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, and Yale, have implemented such alternatives in their medical training. At many schools, students learn about human anatomy, pharmacology, and surgical techniques by shadowing surgeons in the operating room. Many other schools use computer programs or interactive patient simulators, which allow for repeated practice.

The letter may prompt a careful reconsideration of the medical training curricula at these schools, which may not have reviewed their uses of animals for some time. However, if the IACUCs do not respond to the letter within a month, PCRM will file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services may then decide to investigate any violation.

“There is no possible legal or scientific excuse for these exercises, especially since the nation’s best medical schools have done away with them,” said Dr. Pippin. “Humane alternatives such as life-like patient simulators are more effective teaching tools. It is now time for the handful of remaining schools to phase out their live animal laboratories.”

What You Can Do

Visit the complete list of schools with live animal laboratories. Write to your local university or alma mater and ask it to eliminate the labs in favor of modern, cost-effective alternatives.

View a list of other steps you can take.

PCRM Online, June 2006

Media Center | Health | Research | About PCRM | Catalog | Join Us | Search | Site Index | Home

The site does not provide medical or legal advice. This Web site is for information purposes only.
Full Disclaimer | Privacy Policy