The credo of the moderates might be: Experiment if you must, but do everything to protect the innate character of the primates and not let them be turned into laboratory freaks. A thumbnail sketch of the argument is given by Bernard Rollin, an ethicist at Colorado State University, in his formulation "bird gotta fly, fish gotta swim." And monkey, presumably, gotta be in social groups.
There is some evidence that the research community has begun to soften its stance.
Basil Childers
Basil Childers
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Until recently, if researchers were finished using a primate in AIDS-related work, they would simply kill the animal, even if it had shrugged off the illness. It was infected with a form of HIV and that made it a time bomb around other primates. That put researchers—and particularly NIH—in a bind. Many of the animals infected with HIV were chimpanzees, and they didn't progress to full-blown AIDS, making them lousy research models from a scientific perspective. Still, the chimps were infected with HIV. Could NIH justify killing these highly intelligent creatures?
A National Research Council panel found that the agency had a moral obligation to keep the animals alive in recognition of their high intelligence and intricate social lives. In 2000, Congress passed the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection Act, which set up a system of sanctuaries for the 1,300 retired chimps still in NIH's hands. The first 200 chimps will be retired to a sanctuary in Louisiana in 2004.
Philip Dawdy
THE ADVOCATES
ANIMAL RIGHTS
HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
Location: Washington, D.C.
Annual income: $65,474,670
Comments: A moderate group that seeks stronger regulation of research. It's currently pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to enact stricter rules concerning pain and distress experienced by research animals.
Web site: www.hsus.org
IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS
Location: Mill Valley, Calif.
Annual income: $1,904,833
Comments: A radical group that calls for an end to the use of animals in medical research and to the human ownership of pets. It is widely credited with pressuring Congress and the National Institutes of Health into shutting down the notorious Coulston Foundation in New Mexico.
Web site: www.idausa.org
PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS
Location: Norfolk, Va.
Annual income: $13,867,001
Comments: Seeks to end the use of animals in medical research. Best known for its provocative advertisements and publicity stunts. PETA investigates animal cruelty at farms and circuses and promotes vegetarianism.
Web site: www.peta-online.org
NORTHWEST ANIMAL RIGHTS NETWORK
Location: Seattle
Annual income: $15,498
Comments: Grassroots group founded in 1986. Active on a number of fronts, including fur and circus protests as well as promoting veganism. It calls for an end to the use of animals in medical research.
Web site: www.narn.org
ANIMAL LIBERATION FRONT
Location: unknown
Annual income: unknown
Comments: Radical group calls for complete animal liberation and is known for its laboratory break-ins. Law enforcement officials have been frustrated in their search for ALF saboteurs, arresting only a handful over the past 20 years.
Web site: www.animalliberationfront.com
RESEARCH
FOUNDATION FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
Location: Washington, D.C.
Annual income: $1,438,642
Comments: Advocates unfettered use of animals in medical research. Also operates the National Association for Biomedical Research.
Web site: www.fbresearch.org or www.nabr.org
FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SOCIETIES FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
Location: Bethesda, Md.
Annual income: $15,636,860
Comments: A coalition of life-science and biomedical organizations.
Web site: www.faseb.org
WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
Location: Seattle
Annual income: $363,099
Comments: One of many state-level industry advocacy groups. Works primarily as an educational outlet, informing the public about the benefits of biomedical research using animals.
Web site: www.wabr.org
