The Three Rs of Animal Research: What they Mean for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and Why

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is entrusted with assessing the ethics of proposed projects prior to approval of animal research. The role of the IACUC is detailed in legislation and binding rules, which are in turn inspired by the Three Rs: the principles of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. However, these principles are poorly defined. Although this provides the IACUC leeway in assessing a proposed project, it also affords little guidance. Our goal is to provide procedural and philosophical clarity to the IACUC without mandating a particular outcome. To do this, we analyze the underlying logic of the Three Rs and conclude that the Three Rs accord animals moral standing, though not necessarily “rights” in the philosophical sense. We suggest that the Rs are hierarchical, such that Replacement, which can totally eliminate harm, should be considered prior to Reduction, which decreases the number of animals harmed, with Refinement being considered last. We also identify the need for a hitherto implicit fourth R: Reject, which allows the IACUC to refuse permission for a project which does not promise sufficient benefit to offset the pain and distress likely to be caused by the proposed research.     

Reassessing the Role of the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee

The role of the Research Ethics Committee (REC) in the design, conduct and dissemination of scientific research is still evolving and many important questions remain unanswered. Hence, the aim of this paper is to address some of the uncertainty that exists around the role and responsibilities of RECs and to discuss some of the controversy that exists over the criteria that RECs should follow when evaluating a research proposal. The discussion is organised around five of the major roles currently performed by RECs when assessing proposals in the biomedical sciences. It will be shown that these five roles need to be critically evaluated and reassessed. The five roles addressed are: assessing the legitimacy and validity of the informed consent process, second, conducting a comprehensive risk/benefit analysis, third, assessing the validity of a research proposal, fourth, ensuring that researchers observe the social norms, values, customs, traditions and laws that prevail in the community or jurisdiction in which the research will be conducted and finally, monitoring the research project as it unfolds and providing an ongoing advisory and consultancy service to both new and experienced researchers. In reassessing the role of the REC, this paper concludes with a set of general recommendations for RECs. These provide some guidance on the minimum criteria that should be followed when RECs evaluate proposals. These guidelines will be beneficial for new and experienced members of REC, and will help to make the process a more objective, efficient and standardised process. The guidelines will also be beneficial for researchers in the biomedical sciences who are preparing proposals for ethical review.     

机构伦理委员会档案建设及其监管

伦理委员会档案是其在建设和运作中自然产生的最真实可靠的原始记录.通过对档案的产生和意义,分类、文件归档范围以及目前管理问题的分析,建议对其质量内涵审评,建立规范化的管理系统,进行有利于信息数据的统计评估和指导性政策的修订,以促进机构伦理委员会职能发挥,改善医疗、科研环境.     

Health Care Chaplains and their Role on Institutional Ethics Committees: An Australia Study

This paper presents the results of the largest Australian pastoral study concerning the perceptions of health care chaplains about their involvement on hospital research ethics committees (also known in some contexts as institutional ethics committees). Survey results from over 300 Australian health care chaplains indicated that nearly 90% of chaplains believed there was merit in chaplains serving on hospital research ethics committees, yet only a minority (22.7%) had ever participated on such committees. Data from in-depth interviews is also presented exploring the reasons for the lack of participation and the varying opinions regarding the role, appropriateness, and value of chaplains on ethics committees. Some implications of this study with respect to chaplaincy, hospital research ethics committees, health care institutions, ecclesiastical institutions, and government responsibilities are discussed.     

长期护理保险居家护理项目的伦理基础与制度保障

长期护理保险居家护理项目包括家庭照护类和上门护理类,以孝道文化和尊老敬老文化为伦理基础。各地试点政策均对居家护理项目进行了规定。但家庭照护类项目中参保人家属在确定非正式护理人员和维系家庭照护质量中承受着伦理压力,上门护理类项目中上门护理员在维系护理质量和上门护理市场中承受着伦理压力。制度解决相关伦理问题,应允许参保老年人自由选择现金或服务支付,推进家政行业建设,对家庭照护质量维系提供支持,并建立统一的居家上门护理质量标准和考核制度,建立针对养老服务机构上门护理的惩罚和退出制度。

     

欧美生命伦理委员会的机构建设与咨询服务

在当今国际世界,生命伦理学已经发展成一种国际性的“社会运动”,成为学术界和公众关注的热点领域。在欧美国家健全和完善现代医疗保健制度过程中,“生命伦理委员会”起到至关重要的作用,它不仅促使人们从伦理学角度探索“我/我们应当如何决定和行为”的问题,也推动社会从制度建构和文化塑造层面回答“政府应当如何行为”、“如何增进公民的生命伦理意识”等问题,并从哲学领域深入探索如何应对生命伦理学理论与实践中的复杂问题与困境,论证相关伦理选择及其实践的合理性。20世纪60年代以来,欧美社会生命伦理学在机构建设、咨询服务和思维方式等方面的经验可以为中国生命伦理学学科发展及生命伦理委员会建设提供有益的参考。     

Contextual Challenges in South Africa: The Role of a Research Ethics Committee

This article parallels a debate similar to the one in Canada and elsewhere where researchers whose work involves humans now operate under a single ethics policy, with a strong biomedical emphasis. The institution of research ethics committees for humanities and social sciences in South Africa are relatively recent, posing unique challenges to researchers and academicians. These factors contribute to the complexity of conducting ethically sound research in the humanities and social sciences. The article explores this specific context and how a research ethics committee in the humanities and social sciences can meet the challenge of the unique South African context.     

完善我国ART机构伦理委员会结构和规模的构想

建立结构合理、规模适当的ART机构伦理委员会是有效发挥作用的基本要求和必备条件。针对存在的问题,根据委员会履行职责的需要,建议参照国际惯例,结合实际,制订我国ART机构伦理委员会结构和规模的标准或规范。     

Getting Beyond Form Filling: The Role of Institutional Governance in Human Research Ethics

It has become almost a truism to describe the interaction between research ethics committees and researchers as being marred by distrust and conflict. The ethical conduct of researchers is increasingly a matter of institutional concern because of the degree to which non-compliance with national standards can expose the entire institution to risk. This has transformed research ethics into what some have described as a research ethics industry. In an operational sense, there is considerable focus on modifying research behaviour through a combination of education and sanctions. The assessment of whether a researcher is ‘ethical’ is too often based on whether they submit their work for review by an ethics committee. However, is such an approach making a useful contribution to the actual ethical conduct of research and the protection of the interests of participants? Does a focus on ethical review minimise institutional risk? Instead it has been suggested that ethics committees may be distorting or frustrating useful research and are promoting a culture of either mindless rule following or frustrated resistance. An alternative governance approach is required. There is a need for a strong institutional focus on promoting and supporting the reflective practice of researchers through every stage of their work. By situating research ethics within the broader framework of institutional governance, this paper suggests it is possible to establish arrangements that actually facilitate excellent and ethical research.     

我国实验动物伦理委员会建设的现状及问题分析

我国动物实验的伦理审查工作在不断地进步,但大多数实验动物伦理委员会还存在管理不规范、人员培训缺乏、资金投入不足、监管不力等方面的问题.对我国实验动物伦理委员会的建设现状和存在的问题进行了分析,并对如何加强我国实验动物伦理委员会建设提出了一些建议.     

Pastoral Care in Aged Care Settings: Role and Challenges

Journal of Religion and Health - This mixed methods study explored challenges faced by pastoral care workers. A development phase preceded an on-line survey completed by chaplains and pastoral...     

药学监护中的人文关怀对推动合理用药的影响与思考

药物是治疗疾病的物质基础,要真正做到药到病除,合理用药才是关键.对患者进行药学监护是现代医院药学发展的新趋势,在药学监护的基础上进行必要的人文关怀目的就是为了更好的推动合理用药.药学监护中的人文关怀可以明显提高患者的用药依从性,从而减少药物不良反应(ADR)推动合理用药,对提高医院的整体医疗质量具有重大意义.     

姑息治疗及其在肿瘤学中的地位

本文对姑息治疗的历史及概念作了详细的介绍,解释了其不同阶段的内涵,作为医学学科之一,姑息治疗的内容主要包括了疾病伴随或治疗所致症状的诊断评估、预防和治疗,心理和非癌性躯体疾病的预防和治疗,姑息治疗的科研、教学和教育以及终末期病人的治疗和护理等,特别纠正了对“安乐死”的看法。在肿瘤学中,经过40多年,它已从治疗中的辅助角色迅速成为肿瘤综合治疗中的主角,且贯穿于始终。它倡导多学科协作,与抗癌治疗完整结合,对无法治愈的晚期癌症患者以缓解症状、改善生活质量为主要目标,在全球范围内,很大一部分晚期肿瘤病人已从姑息治疗中明显获益。它的有力实施,也是我们创建和谐社会的重要反映。     

Organisational Consultancy, Institutional Dynamics and the Role of the Student Counsellor

The despair and uncertainty apparent in some parts of the current educational environment is likely to give rise to an increase in the occurrence of unhealthy institutional defence mechanisms. The implications of such developments for the counsellor are explored. In particular, it is argued that the latter may have to assume the role of organisational consultant and become more politically engaged within the institution, if the integrity and dignity of counselling are to survive.     

Determination of Factors Affecting Self-Transcendence and Meaning in Life Among the Elderly Receiving Institutional Care

Journal of Religion and Health - This study was conducted in order to determine factors that influence self-transcendence and meaning in life in the elderly receiving institutional care. This...     

Early interactions between animal psychologists and animal activists and the founding of the APA Committee on Precautions in Animal Experimentation

The current conflict between animal psychologists and animal rights activists often is presented as a recent and unique phenomenon. Although its scope may be unprecedented, the fundamental issues are longstanding. Early criticisms of animal psychologists are viewed in the context of the broader Victorian antivivisectionist movement and are seen as similar to those of the present time. Various attitudes toward animals and research were expressed by individuals such as Charles Darwin, George John Romanes, William James, and John Dewey. Media attacks on animal research were directed at psychologists such as G. Stanley Hall, John B. Watson, Ivan P. Pavlov, and Edward L. Thorndike. The American Psychological Association Committee on Precautions in Animal Experimentation was founded in 1925 at the instigation of Walter B. Cannon, with Robert M. Yerkes as the first chair.