Chapter 1 - Ethical Considerations and Regulatory Issues

Abstract

Like many aspects of life, involvement with animal research presents ethical challenges—areas where competing interests require use of an ethical decision-making process to provide guidance. The intent of this chapter is to provide information that will be useful to all individuals involved in animal-based research, testing, and teaching: scientists, technicians, laboratory animal veterinarians, and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) members. This process is considered an effort to define normative laboratory animal use ethics. Reference is made to relevant values and standards found in various principles and guidelines developed for use by individuals involved in animal research. Potential ethical challenges which might confront laboratory animal professionals using rodents and rabbits such as challenges related to breeding colonies, genetically modified rodents, use of animals in cancer research, perinatal animal use, and use of animals in neuroscience and behavioral research have been used as examples. Related ethical questions and the appropriate principles that may pertain to the situation have been discussed in this study. Using the concepts and principles outlined in this chapter, as well as the references provided for further information, it is hoped that individuals will create an approach to develop reasoned arguments for ethical recommendations with respect to the use of animals in research.