Poynter Center Ethics Seminars

On June 10, 2009 Dr. Lida Anestidou delivered the lecture, “Animal Pain and Biomedical Research: Ethics and Practice,” at Indiana University Bloomington. Dr. Anestidou is the Program Officer at the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research at The National Academies. The Academies are comprised of: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. In her presentation Dr. Anestidou addressed the question of how we are to approach the ethical issues involved in using animals in biomedical research.

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• Introduction by Brian Schrag, Executive Secretary, Association for Practical and Professional Ethics


• Opening remarks
About National Academy of Sciences
Explanation of study process


• Reasons for research
Use of animals


• Animal Welfare Act
Omission of rats, mice, and birds


• “There are certain expectations by society at large for researchers who use animals in their work.”


• “What does the law say about animal pain?”
Measuring pain


• “The question now becomes whether pain can ever be justified?”


• Investigating new drugs and medications
Whether the scientific benefit is sufficient to use animals for it


• Description of pain


• Vertebrate animals can experience pain
Minimizing and controlling pain in animals
Safety valves in guidelines


• Conclusion


• Q&A