Mini Assignment 2- Norms and standards
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Arizona State University *
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Philosophy
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Dec 6, 2023
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Uploaded by karen4546
Mini Assignment 2- Norms and standards
Case
The following case consists of a “group of researchers at Pacific Medical School” who are
planning to utilize 48 beagle dogs total as “model subjects to test a topical medication that is
expected to help relieve pain associated with severe burns for humans” (Shamoo, A., n.d.). The
48 dogs will be divided into two groups; a control group and an experimental group where all
dogs will receive a burn on their back using an electric branding iron (Shamoo, A., n.d.). All dogs
will receive care for the burn but only 24 dogs (one group) will receive the experimental topical
medication (Shamoo, A., n.d.). In addition, “the researchers will attempt to measure the pain and
discomfort of the dogs by touching the burn to provoke a reaction, varying from behavioral cues,
heart rate, and blood pressure” (Shamoo, A., n.d.). I would not approve of this experiment since
it violates the Animal Welfare Act of 1966, and it does not follow protocol enforced by the
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
Animal welfare act of 1966
A prominent philosopher at Princeton, Peter Singer, argues that sentient creatures, animals who
can experience pain or pleasure, have moral status and are worthy of moral consideration
(Singer P. & Regan T., 1989). In an Ethics Bites podcast, he defines a person as “someone who
is aware of their existence over time” so most humans are persons and some nonhuman
animals can be persons (Singer, P., n.d.). He mentions that animals are capable of suffering and
he does not necessarily mean that “they somehow have the same, let alone a superior status to
humans” but we are inflicting unnecessary suffering on them and that should be enough to
make it wrong, especially since it is done to save human lives (Singer, P., n.d.). According to
Singer, the practices mentioned are wrong as the beagles are sentient creatures who can
experience pain through the electric branding iron that is done to cause an unnecessary burn. In
addition, the researchers will bother the incision to get a reaction from hurt dogs. These
practices go against the Animal Welfare Act that covers warm-blooded animals (dogs) (Macrina,
F., 2014). This legislation mandates “humane care and treatment for dogs, cats, rabbits,
hamsters, guinea pigs, and nonhuman primates which are not considered by these researchers
(Macrina, F., 2014).
IACUC
The institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) was created by the Animal Welfare
Act and the USPHS policy to “oversee the animal care and use program for each institution”
(Macrina, F., 2014). They are responsible for conducting inspections and doing reports on each
institution every 6 months (Macrina F., 2014). They are also responsible for reviewing and
approving protocol and conducting personnel training (Macrina F., 2014). The protocol review
consists of ensuring that the institution is taking care of the animal use essentials, making sure
the research is not duplicative, they have the appropriate species, the number of animals is
justified, the care of the animals is appropriate, they are alleviating pain and distress, and
alternative procedures have been considered (Macrina F., 2014). I would not approve of this
experiment because the number of animals (48 dogs) is not justified, and dogs are not an
appropriate species to use. They are inflicting pain and distress on the dogs without considering
lower organisms for their research or previously conducted research.
References
Macrina, F.L. (2014). In scientific integrity: Text and cases in responsible conduct of research.
(4th edition) 135-44. Washington, DC: ASM Press. Shamoo, A.E. (n.d.) Responsible conduct of
research (p.234). Oxford University Press. Singer, P. (n.d.) Using animals. Philosophy Bites,
podcast. Singer, P. & Regan, T. (1989). Animal rights and human obligations. (2nd edition) 73-
86. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
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