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Ethical Concerns Raised Over Lab Rat Deaths at Tulane University

ACTION ALERT:

Michael A. Fitts, President
Tulane University
[email protected]

President Fitts,

You must immediately terminate the Tulane lab staff who illegally decapitated rats with scissors. These actions are simply barbaric and must not be tolerated!

 

Ethical Concerns Raised Over Lab Rat Deaths at Tulane University

From One Green Planet, September 15, 2023

A recent revelation of Animal rights violations at Tulane University has sparked outrage among activists. Researchers at the university stand accused of conducting experiments on laboratory rats that not only breached international protocols but also raised questions about the validity of their scientific research. The incidents, which involved the use of scissors and a blunt blade for euthanasia, have prompted calls for the dismissal of those responsible.

The accusations stem from separate self-reported notices of violation submitted to the federal Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) by Tulane University. The advocacy group Stop Animal Exploitation Now obtained these documents. The violations, dated March and June of this year, highlight serious deficiencies in Tulane’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols.

One of the most troubling incidents detailed in these notices involves the beheading of two adult rats using scissors. Such a departure from recognized animal care guidelines (which still are not good) is deemed a “significant deficiency.” In another instance, when a guillotine was used to euthanize eight rats, it was found that the blade was blunt, further raising concerns about the animals' suffering. Moreover, anesthesia administered to over 200 other rats had already exceeded its expiration date, potentially causing unnecessary distress.

Animal rights activists, led by Michael Budkie, the executive director of Stop Animal Exploitation Now, have been quick to respond to these allegations. They demand more than just the correction of the violations; they are calling for a comprehensive inquiry and the dismissal of those involved. Budkie argues that the repeated violations indicate a systemic issue at Tulane University and questions the credibility of the research being conducted there.

In August, Budkie’s group filed a federal complaint against Tulane regarding a previous episode involving a macaque monkey’s death at the university’s national primate research center. The university was cited for failing to protect the primate from injury, resulting in the temporary suspension of research protocols.

Michael Budkie underscores the significance of following protocols and regulations in animal research. He believes that any data generated in proximity to these violations is essentially “junk science” and questions the use of federal funds for such research. In essence, he highlights that not only animal welfare but also the credibility of scientific research is at stake.

In response to the allegations, Tulane University has stated that they self-reported the incidents and took corrective action through their Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. They assert their commitment to the highest standards of compassionate veterinary care and claim full accreditation by AAALAC International, a nonprofit organization that promotes humane treatment in animal research.
On their website, the university asserts that they treat research animals “ethically” and “with compassion”. They emphasize their respect for the moral and ethical implications of using animals in research and their commitment to compliance with all government regulations.

The allegations of animal rights violations at Tulane University have ignited a debate over the ethics of animal research and the responsibilities of research institutions. While the university claims to have addressed the issues and maintained their commitment to “ethical animal care”, activists like Michael Budkie argue that the violations reveal a more significant problem. It also prompts a broader societal discussion about the ethics and necessity of such research in the first place.

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