PCRM requests investigation into pig usage at University of Missouri School of Medicine
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is planning to file a request for the investigation into pig usage at the University of Missouri School of Medicine.
According to the request, the PCRM wants the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to investigate how the pigs are being used for training.
Since the University of Missouri is considered a “research facility,” they have to comply with the Animal Welfare Act. This means that any use of live animals for research, testing or training must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
The request says that IACUC had been performing inadequately and that the violations of the university are:
1. “Justification of Animal Use is Subjective and Insufficient Because Alternative Exist”
2. “The Use of Pigs for Emergency Medicine Training is Not ‘Unavoidable'”
3. “The University of Missouri Columbia IACUC is Failing to Properly Oversee Animal Use”
ABC 17 News contacted Dr. John Pippin, one of the people behind the request. “If there is an alternative to using animals, the protocol investigator has to provide a valid and acceptable explanation why they’re not using that alternative, and the investigator in this case didn’t do that.”
The University of Missouri countered with the response below:
Dr. Pippin,
Thank you for sharing your views with us. We have given thoughtful consideration to the points made in your letter.
At this time, we respectfully disagree with your contention that all of the important training we provide to emergency medicine resident physicians can be achieved through simulation.
The University of Missouri’s goal is to provide our emergency medicine resident physicians with the skills and procedural knowledge necessary to save the lives of our patients. Our physician faculty includes national and international experts on emergency medicine simulation training. We use simulation training, including our world-class Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Simulation Center, for much of our emergency medicine training.
In the extremely rare instances (approximately six animals per year) when we need to train emergency medicine resident physicians on life-saving measures that are not adequately replicated through simulation, we use humane and strict procedures and protocols that are reviewed by the University’s Animal Care and Use Committee.
At the University of Missouri, we have a deep commitment to the care of all our patients, both human and animal. That is why we have a world-class School of Medicine and a world-renowned College of Veterinary Medicine. At both, we are making research breakthroughs that advance human and animal health.
The care of our animal patients is important to us. For example, since 2007, we’ve sponsored an adoption program for research animals, and we recently expanded the adoption program: http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2017/0615-mizzou-announces-new-animal-research-adoption-partnership/
We hope this addresses your concerns.
Sincerely,
Jeff Henegar, Ph.D.
Director of Animal Care Quality Assurance
Office of Research
University of Missouri
