ACTION ALERT:
Contact:
Dr. Jay L. Hess, Dean,
Indiana University School of Medicine
email: [email protected]
Dean Hess,
Indiana University School of Medicine negligence has killed over 116 animals due to starvation/dehydration, drowning, suffocation, botched medical procedures, etc. In addition to these deaths, there were multiple incidents in which animals were denied adequate pain relief. euthanized improperly using cervical dislocation without anesthesia, severely dehydrated, etc. This carelessness must not be tolerated. You must launch an internal investigation of all Indiana University School of Medicine animal experimentation and terminate all responsible lab staff.
116 animals die at IU School of
Medicine as a result of staff negligence, watchdog group says
By
Fox59.com, May 14, 2018
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.– A national watchdog group says at least 116 animals
were killed and others were injured at the Indiana University School of
Medicine.
The group says the animals were found starved, dehydrated, drowned or
suffocated because of staff negligence. One report states three dead rats
were found in dirty, wet or flooded cages, despite a room checklist that had
been signed off on. Another report indicates nearly 30 rats drowned in
flooded cages due to valve malfunctions. Another report describes 40
drowning in flooded cages due to water bottle malfunctions.
“They indicate very serious, ongoing problems at the I.U. School of
Medicine,” said SAEN Executive Director, Michael Budkie. “And that’s why
we’re calling for an independent audit and the termination of all staff
connected to these incidents.
The nonprofit group SAEN monitors research facilities for violations and
animal abuse. The group is pushing for an investigation into the program and
says the school sent federal funding agencies at least 17 letters admitting
to wrongdoing.
“Simply the fact that these documents even exist indicate that there are
very serious problems at this facility,” Budkie said. “Because these reports
are only generated when there are serious non-compliance issues.”
The findings in the letters include the following incidents from April 2016
to October 2017:
“This is shocking. And the reality is that Indiana University School of
Medicine considers these animals to be disposable,” said Budkie. “Otherwise
they wouldn’t have allowed these animals to die of starvation, dehydration,
suffocation and drowning.”
Indiana University issued the following statement saying all of the
incidents were self-reported.
“Indiana University and Indiana University School of Medicine maintain the
highest professional standards in the care and treatment of animals. The
university is in full compliance with the National Institutes of Health
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare and received clean reports during two
recent external site reviews conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
and AAALAC International, a private, nonprofit organization that promotes
the humane treatment of animals in science.
“All cited incidents, which involved mice and rats, were self-reported,
demonstrating that the university is diligent in monitoring and taking
corrective action when necessary. In each case, the filings were approved
and accepted by the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare.
“Medical research taking place at IU School of Medicine is vital to
advancing new therapies related to diseases such as cancer, diabetes and
Alzheimer’s disease, and to improving the health of patients in Indiana and
beyond. The university and school strive to have no incidents involving
laboratory research and continuously assess protocols and procedures to make
improvements when possible.”
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