Some At Wayne State Calling Into Question 'Cruel And Unusual' Animal Testing
DETROIT (WWJ) -- What some call "cruel and unusual" animal research practices were the topic of discussion Monday at Wayne State University.
The issue was back in front of Wayne State University's Board of Governors with some calling for an end to the practice.
Assistant professor Dr. Sharon Kemper, with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, said the university's use of dogs in cardiovascular heart failure testing is both cruel and unnecessary.
"Sometimes they're so tired they can't even eat -- they're listless," Kemper said. "Then the dogs are all eventually euthanized if they don't die on the treadmill or in their cage later."
Kemper said that during some tests, cardiac arrest can be induced in some of the subjects while showing negligible benefit for human conditions.
"It's a waste of funds," Kemper said. "They could put their funds into human clinical trials and not experiment on the dogs -- it's not necessary anymore.
Wayne State spokesman Matt Lockwood countered, saying all university research is handled humanely and plays a vital role in advancing both human and animal health.
"The fact is that the National Institutes of Health has funded this research for more than 20 years," Lockwood said. "The research we're talking about here is cardiovascular research, that is the number one killer of people. So the odds are that this research is going to benefit loved ones of yours and mine down the line."
The issue was taken under advisement by the Board of Governors following public comments.
"If the NIH's cardiovascular experts didn't see this as adding to the knowledge and advancing research, they would not continue to put their dollars toward it," Lockwood said.