In the Name of Science: Issues in Responsible Animal Experimentation

by F. Barbara Orlans

Overview

Few arguments in biomedical experimentation have stirred such heated debate in recent years as those raised by animal research. In this comprehensive analysis of the social, political, and ethical conflicts surrounding the use of animals in scientific experiments, Barbara Orlans judges both ends of the spectrum in this debate -- unconditional approval or rejection of animal experimentation -- to be untenable. Instead of arguing for either view, she thoughtfully explores the ground between the extremes, and convincingly makes the case for public policy reforms that serve to improve the welfare of laboratory animals without jeopardizing scientific endeavor. This book presents controversial issues in a balanced manner based on careful historical analysis and original research. Different mechanisms of oversight for animal experiments are compared and those that have worked well are identified. This compelling work will be of interest to biomedical scientists, ethicists, animal welfare advocates and other readers concerned with this critical issue.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190281816
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/08/1993
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

F. Barbara Orlans, Ph.D., is a physiologist on the faculty of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, where she pursues her interests in the ethical and policy issues of animal experimentation. In previous years she conducted animal experiments on heart disease at the National Institutes of Health.

Table of Contents

1 The Beginnings of Institutionalized Animal Experimentation: Nineteenth-Century Highlights, 3
2 Current Attitudes and Ethical Arguments, 20
3 Major Issues, 35
4 Legislation and the Growth of Protagonist Organizations, 44
5 Animal Subjects and Alternatives, 61
6 Protocol Review, 83
7 Community Members on Animal Review Committees, 99
8 Animal Pain Scales in Public Policy: An International Perspective, 118
9 Pain, Suffering, and Death: Warm- and Cold-Blooded Vertebrates, Mollusks, and Insects, 128
10 Testing, 153
11 From Sunshine Laws and Civil Disobedience to Raids, 169
12 The Use of Animals in Education, 191
13 The Source of Laboratory Dogs and Cats: Pound versus Purpose-Bred Animals, 209
14 Editorial Responsibilities and Issues, 221
15 Looking Ahead, 240
Appendix A: Animals Used in Experimentation, FY 1973-1990, 249
Appendix B: Funding Sources for Targeted Programs to Promote
Alternatives, 251
Appendix C: Sunshine Laws, 257
References, 261
Additional Reading, 281
Glossary, 284
Index, 285

Editorial Reviews

"Orlans ambitiously attempts to provide a comprehensive overview. . . . she does an excellent job of laying out the issues in a clear and nonpolemical fashion. An excellent overview for both general reader and specialist." —Choice

"Orlans' lucid writing is easily accessible . . . and ought to be read by anyone who wants to be conversant on the use of animals in science. . . . extensively covers the use of animals . . . thoroughly reviews the progress of biomedical research journals." —Animal People

"Presents a balanced and informative discussion of the use of animals in research. . . . will be of interest to anyone who wants a balanced, fair and in-depth analysis of the use of animals in research." —Resource

"The best informed book on the subject of animal experimentation that has been written for scientists. . . . well referenced and indexed and includes several useful appendices." —Animal Welfare Institute Quarterly

"An earnest analysis of one of the most important issues in laboratory research today. . . . excellent . . . even-handed. . . . deserves to be read by biologists, science teachers, medical researchers, and others for whom the animal issue strikes close to home. They will benefit from it." —Franklin M. Loew, BioScience

"Mercifully devoid of . . . polemics . . . . covers an impressive array of topics related to the ethics of animal experimentation . . . . does not gloss over the moral quagmire conveniently ignored by dogmatists on either side of the debate . . . . Orlans's book will, in the long run, be considerably more important than diatribes from either extreme." —Harold Herzog, Science

"[Orlans] presents a detailed and, for the most part, balanced review of the major issues in animal research in the United States. . . . an excellent, up-to-date review of the evolution of public awareness and concern about biomedical research involving animals. . . . valuable." —The New England Journal of Medicine

"An extremely well-written and well-documented book. . . . not only an important addition to the growing library of work on animal issues, it is also a wonderful resource for information. . . . the book is impeccably researched and fairly written and is of great value to both animal activists and the animals themselves." —Zoe Weil, The American Anti-Vivisection Society

"A wonderfully constructive starting point for any future discussions of these issues. Orlans has compressed into a single book a gateway to further in-depth exploration of a usually intimidating range of theoretical, political, scientific, and practical issues. In doing so, she offers even more than a tool that should be required reading for every scientist and researcher-in-training involved in animal research in this country." —Lachlan Forrow, MD (Beth Israel Hospital), Annals of Internal Medicine

"Thought -provoking and challenging.....Records a vast series of significant events, and contains a wealth of information....Received an award from the American Library Association for being among the best academic books of 1993. It should be read by all those who are interested or involved in the subject in any way, and especially by those who either feel that all is well or feel despondent due to the magnitude of the problem to be dealt with. By writing this book, and through the example of her own courage and commitment, Barbara Orlans clearly shows us that both these extreme attitudes are wrong." —Frame News, UK

From the Publisher