Latest monkey death casts spotlight on controversial research
Latest monkey death casts spotlight on controversial research
The death Sunday of a cotton-top tamarin monkey at a Harvard Medical School facility has cast an intense spotlight on a controversial area of biomedical research that has contributed to major advances but also aroused suspicion because of the secrecy that generally surrounds the operations of primate research facilities.
It was the fourth monkey death at the New England Primate Research Center in less than two years, and animal rights groups condemned the apparent carelessness that led to it. An elderly monkey was euthanized after being found in poor condition and lacking a water bottle in its cage. The groups called on federal regulators to take decisive and severe enforcement actions.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter this week to the National Institutes of Health, the federal funder of biomedical research, asking for an investigation into whether federal grant money was used to support research that was not in compliance with animal welfare regulations.
“The deaths that have been reported were unacceptable and completely avoidable, and the primate center should be taking all actions to rectify the situation,” said Kathleen Conlee, senior director for animal research issues at the Humane Society of the United States. “It sounds like they’re starting to take this a bit more seriously, and we’re glad they’re being more transparent about it.”
http://www.boston.com/Boston/whitecoatnotes/2012/02/latest-monkey-death-casts-spotlight-controversial-research/XZGfhf63Go1R3k0nBqPCDN/index.html
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than it is to protect the welfare of the dumb brutes that God gave us to use as we please.
