AR-News: An open letter to Vet School students

Wed Feb 18 19:57:22 EST 2004

From: interniche-l at interniche.org

http://www.tuftsdaily.com/articleDisplay.jsp?a_id=3190

An open letter to Vet School students
by Betsy Erickson

Dear Vet School Students, 

As a representative voice of more than 85 Cape Cod
residents who publicly support the graduate students'
opposition of the Tufts University School of
Veterinary Medicine's (TUSVM) bone healing experiment,
I would like to share with you our perspective on the
controversy that recently swept through your campus
("Grafton campus community deals with aftermath of
controversial animal deaths" Tufts Daily, Feb. 9). 

Just hours before attending a New Years Eve fundraiser
for TUSVM's Oncology department we learned of the
plight of five research dogs with surgically broken
legs. Prior to hearing the evening news, none of us
had scrutinized the kinds of research our donations
might be supporting. As supporters and patrons of a
school considered an ethical leader in the humane
treatment of animals, we had simply taken it for
granted that our dollars were being spent on the
research of naturally occurring disease and injury.
After hearing the news we immediately began to
reevaluate our previous misconception. 

Although it was learned that the Oncology fundraiser
had no apparent direct ties to the experiment in
question, several attendees continued to express
concern that their donation's might be diverted to
animal research methods that they themselves might not
agree with. Consequently, the research dogs' story
prompted us to begin a discussion of our views on the
subject of responsible animal research. 

Whereas, we are not all scientists, together we
possess extensive experience caring for a wide variety
of animal species with varying degrees of good health,
illness and injury. Accordingly, it doesn't take a
scientific degree to know that it should be possible
to measure the healing of canine bones through the
same methods as are used with humans, or that
rehabilitation possibilities do exist for two or three
legged dogs "bred specifically for research" ("Dogs
now gone: Tufts destroys five research canines" Boston
Herald Jan. 3). 

Our perspective was expressed in a letter dated
12/31/03. In applauding TUSVM for its commitment to
scientific advancement we simply explained what such a
commitment means to us: "... research that does not
harm or kill but rather uses already existing illness
and injury or non-animal methods to uncover
information that will serve both animals and humans
alike." We asked those involved with the bone healing
experiment to consider other options for the dogs in
question. And we asked for a response. 

The initial letter was signed by 85 Cape Cod residents
and was sent to the administration as well as to the
researchers. No reply was received. Then we learned
from a Boston Herald article ("Dogs now gone..." Jan.
3) that the dog's lives had been terminated on New
Year's Day. In fact, TUSVM has yet to respond to our
letter, or to any of our follow-up telephone calls
requesting more information about the experiments
scientific validity and efficacy than has thus far
been provided to the press. 

We continue to be very disappointed in TUSVM's overall
response to the ethical controversy your academic
community is trying to come to terms with. Hence, we
would like to clarify a few issues. 

We do not represent the animal rights activists, the
Grafton residents or the public demonstrators that
TUSVM's has admitted to hearing from on this issue
("Grafton campu..." Feb. 9). We are simply a group of
concerned Cape Cod citizens who share the same deep
commitment to the health and welfare of animals that
hopefully prompted all of you to enter Vet School in
the first place. Neither our response, nor the
response of the other animal advocate groups poses the
security threat to your country campus that certain
reactions of your University suggest. 

Amongst us are past and current donors, supporters,
volunteers and clients of TUSVM. We believe that as a
group we comprise a legitimate representative sample
of your potential future client base. We also believe
that TUSVM administrators have received similar input
from a significantly larger representative sample of
your potential future client base than they have
admitted to. 

We hope that as a group of professionals in training,
many of who will undoubtedly enter the business world
of Veterinary medicine, you will demand that the
administrators of your institution fully disclose to
you the true context and extent of public feedback
this controversy has generated. We also hope that you
will seriously examine the manner in which the
administration of TUSVM has publicly responded to this
controversy. 

Applause for leadership in Veterinary educational
ethics aside, we think valid questions have arisen
about TUSVM's leadership role in research ethics.
Respect for TUSVM's receptiveness to the ideas of its
students' on an internal level aside, we believe that
the principles of good public relations and business
practice do not include silence, secrecy, avoidance of
the press and fear of public scrutiny or
accountability. 

To our knowledge, both TUSVM and the primary
investigators have declined to speak to the press on
several occasions. None of our letters or phone
inquiries have been answered and none of the inquiries
of several other groups that we know of have been
answered. We have not heard of any reports of radical
or extremist activities occurring on your campus,
which would justify the institution of added security
measures. And it seems that both the press and the
student body have been misinformed about the context
and extent of the public's interest in this matter. We
therefore conclude that it has been TUSVM's own
failure to provide a reasonable and accountable public
response to this controversy that has served to propel
whatever sensationalism might have ensued. 

It is our belief that the Animals and Public Policy
Graduate students have legitimately presented several
clearly defined questions pertaining to the issue of
responsible animal research. We also believe that the
subject of responsible animal research is ultimately a
public policy issue and that it was therefore very
appropriate for the students' to bring an ethical
issue that they were unable to resolve internally to
the public's attention through the press. The four of
the 30 original protestors who felt ethically bound to
come forward signify a legitimate representative
sample of not only a portion of your student body but
also quite possibly a legitimate representative sample
of Vet School student body's in general. That voice
deserves to be acknowledged rather than minimized.
Furthermore, we believe that because TUSVM receives
state funding, the Massachusetts public deserves the
right to demand public accountability as well. 

This recent controversy on your campus has prompted us
to sadly conclude that we are now better educated
about the kinds of experiments to which animals are
subjected. As such, we strongly support the Animals
and Public Policy students who have joined forces with
New England Anti-Vivisection Society to effect changes
to animal research policies across the board. We will
not be boycotting TUSVM hospitals but we will insist
that any future donations are held as restricted funds
as we continue to expect TUSVM, as well as all
veterinarians, to show accountability to its consumer
base. 

We hope that you will keep our perspective under
serious consideration as your educational community
enters into "an honest and open dialogue...about
research and research ethics." ("Grafton campus..."
Feb. 9). 

There is no question that many animals benefit from
the expert veterinary services at TUSVM. Let this
experience serve to unite your academic community as
it continues to reach towards its leadership goals 

Sincerely, 
Betsy Erickson     

Betsy Erickson is one of a group of 85 Cape Cod
residents who donate money to Tufts University School
of Veterinary Medicine.

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