Mr David Mawufemor Azilagbetor1
1University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Biography:
Bio to come
Abstract:
Background:
Aside from ethical and scientific concerns in animal research societal debates, other concerns like its work-related risks — one of which relates to psychologically-related effects on animal research personnel — that it poses also exist. Meanwhile, society is the ultimate benefactor of research.
Aim:
This essay discusses the need for society, the ultimate beneficiary of animal research, to take some responsibility for animal research and be involved in sharing and addressing the psychological burden on personnel.
Discussion:
Animal research personnel love their experimental animal subjects and form strong bonds with them. However, they face psychological problems through the “caring-killing paradox”, where they care for animals but research procedures require them to induce disease or damage and/or euthanize those same animals. Aggravating issues, personnel also face stigma-related mental health issues as society regards their profession as “dirty work”. Personnel endure psychological burdens while seeking to advance scientific knowledge for biomedical breakthroughs for societal benefit. Through the emerging initiative of patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE), society is drawn closer to animal research, where beneficiaries review animal research projects for funding allocation and inspect animal research facilities. Society can take up more responsibility through PPIE, where they can be charged to host public education about animal research to address stigmatization, listen to challenges faced by personnel, and put up personnel support structures.
Conclusion:
This initiative can help advance the culture of care; the mental health of personnel can improve; and animals will have better care, producing more reliable experimental results.