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Principles Regarding Vivisection in Medical Education

The American Medical Student Association:

1.             AFFIRMS that the use of animals in medicine is justified if such use will save or benefit human lives (1986), while recognizing the fact that advancements in scientific knowledge have been made using nonanimal laboratory methods. (1993)

2.             DISTINGUISHES between vivisection in medical research, which is the pursuit of knowledge; and vivisection in medical education, which is the demonstration of already well-known facts and techniques. (1986)

3.             URGES the use of non-household pets (e.g., rats and mice) for such classes and labs when it is possible to derive equal educational value from them. (1986)

4.             CONDEMNS the use of household pets (e.g., cats and dogs) from pounds, shelters and Class B random source animal dealers. (2007)

5.             Regarding mandatory participation in animal laboratories:

a.             URGES that all medical school classes and laboratories involving the use of live animals be optional for students, who for moral or pedagogical reasons, feel such use is either unjustified or unnecessary. (1993)

b.             SUPPORTS the practice of giving medical students complete information beforehand on the source, procurement procedure, transportation, kenneling and state of health of animals that would be used for educational purposes, so that medical students can make their own informed ethical decisions. (1986)

c.             CONDEMNS the practice of faculty intimidation of medical students to force them to attend classes and labs using live animals. (1986)

d.             URGES the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine, and the University of Nevada School of Medicine to immediately rescind the requirement for medical students to participate in laboratories using live animals as a requisite for advancement within the school. (1993)

6.             Regarding alternatives to animal laboratories:

a.             Strongly ENCOURAGES the replacement of animal laboratories with non-animal alternatives in undergraduate medical education. (2007)

b.             URGES a directory of such alternative educational materials be produced. (1986)

c.             ENCOURAGES the utilization of non-animal teaching materials and methods in Continuing Medical Education. (1993)

7.             Regarding animal rights in laboratories:

a.             CONDEMNS laxity in the administration and maintenance of anesthesia and analgesia for animals during and after procedures. (1986)

b.             SUPPORTS humane and comfortable transportation, kenneling, feeding and medical care before procedures; and the same, including analgesia, after nonlethal procedures. (1986)

8.             OPPOSES any legislation that would necessitate the increased use of breeded animals for research and opposes any legislation that would limit the use of animals from shelters for research. (1995)

9.             URGES STRONGLY that medical research on the great apes, including bonobo, chimpanzee, gorilla and orangutan, be limited as much as possible to nonlethal, humane and, as much as possible, noninvasive research activities, and that arrangements be made for care and accommodations for great apes that fosters their physical and psychological health before, during and after any research activity. (1999)