Frasch Pamela D
Lewis & Clark Law School, Portland, Oregon.
ILAR J. 2016 May 1;57(3):285-292. doi: 10.1093/ilar/ilw016.
The use of animals in biomedical, toxicological, and basic research has been common practice, and a tool for scientists and researchers, for many years. And yet, serious conflict continues to exist between those who believe that the use of animals in research will yield scientific results that benefit humans and those who believe such practices are unethical regardless of use or outcome. High-profile undercover cases have further raised public awareness and have put the entire industry under pressure to be transparent, accountable, and aggressive in its adoption of reduction, refinement, and replacement (3R) principles. Many animal law attorneys are deeply frustrated by what they see as weak US laws that are unevenly enforced, especially when compared with legal advances in other countries and regions. This article (1) explores those gaps in US animal welfare laws with an emphasis on the Animal Welfare Act, (2) argues in favor of stronger laws and rigorous enforcement, and (3) suggests steps to advance these goals. These steps include (1) expanding the definition of "animal" in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), (2) improving and expanding minimum care requirements in USDA regulations, (3) instituting mandatory reporting requirements, improving Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees, and allowing easier accessibility to laboratory reports and plans, (4) adding a citizen suit provision to the AWA, and (5) continuing education about the emotional and social capacities of animals and a stronger commitment to 3R principles.
多年来，在生物医学、毒理学和基础研究中使用动物一直是常见做法，也是科学家和研究人员的一种工具。然而，在那些认为在研究中使用动物将产生造福人类的科学成果的人与那些认为无论使用情况或结果如何这种做法都不道德的人之间，严重的冲突仍然存在。备受瞩目的卧底事件进一步提高了公众意识，并使整个行业面临压力，要求其在采用减少、优化和替代（3R）原则方面保持透明、负责并积极主动。许多动物法律律师对他们所认为的美国薄弱且执行不力的法律深感沮丧，尤其是与其他国家和地区的法律进展相比时。本文（1）探讨美国动物福利法中的这些差距，重点关注《动物福利法》；（2）主张制定更严格的法律并进行严格执行；（3）提出推进这些目标的步骤。这些步骤包括：（1）扩大《动物福利法》（AWA）中“动物”的定义；（2）改进并扩大美国农业部法规中的最低护理要求；（3）制定强制性报告要求，改善机构动物护理和使用委员会，并使实验室报告和计划更容易获取；（4）在《动物福利法》中增加公民诉讼条款；（5）持续开展关于动物情感和社会能力的教育，并更坚定地致力于3R原则。
