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More Alternatives | High Welfare | Strict Controls | Greatest Benefits | Other
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High Welfare
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There are more gentically manipulated mice being used each year, what are the welfare implications? (Manchester meeting)
Personally, I'm very hard put to spot the genetically modified mice from the ordinary ones. The number of strains that do have welfare problems has been small and we can anticipate what the effects might be. We can then plan how to cope. (Barbara Holgate, vet)
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Why do the animals have to suffer?
At the heart of the British approach to research using animals is the cost and benefit. There are costs to the laboratory animal. Not just the experiment itself, but breeding, transportation, and every-day living. These have to be weighed against the medical benefits - new treatments, better surgery, and insights into disease. The costs and benefits of an animal experiment are always assessed before a licence is granted.
Most animal experiments are the same as routine procedures with patients, both human and animal. Pain relief is used, for example if the animal is to undergo surgery. Nevertheless, there is the possibility of some distress or suffering, on some occasions. This suffering is most likely to be less than occurs in patients and for a much shorter period of time.
No-one wants to cause suffering and in most animal experiments the degree of distress is minimal. All laboratories have specially trained staff and vets to look after the animals.
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