Table 2 Healthcare Worker expectations regarding the methodology used in Animal Research

Anesthetic used should be monitored (to ensure a deep enough level of anesthetic) during surgery on an animal in an experiment.

Pain should be monitored after this surgery (to ensure comfort) so that adequate pain medications are given if the animal is in pain.

Pain should be monitored after this surgery even over-night (to ensure comfort) so that adequate pain medications are given if the animal is in pain.

When an animal is killed at the end of the experiment, it is acceptable to use a cheaper but less humane method of killing to reduce cost.

When an animal is killed at the end of the experiment, it is acceptable to use a less humane method of killing if this will improve the experimental results.

To save time and money, it is acceptable to do an animal experiment even if there is another way to look at the experimental question that would not require using animals.

To save time and money, it is acceptable to do an animal experiment using more animals even if statistical experts know of another way to look at the experimental question that requires using fewer animals.

To save time and money, it is acceptable to do an animal experiment without doing a comprehensive literature review that would determine if the study has already been done by another research group.

It is acceptable to follow a research method that gives less reliable results in order to avoid the added costs of consulting an expert in study design.

It is acceptable to follow a research method that gives less reliable results in order to avoid the added costs of hiring more laboratory staff.

If an animal model of a disease has consistently found that successful treatments in animals have failed to work in humans, it is still acceptable to use that animal model to test a different treatment for that disease.

Some animal care practices result in stressed animals, which can have effects on their immune system and behavior. It is still acceptable to use these animal care practices in research looking at how a new treatment affects the immune system and behavior.

If several experimenters are involved in an animal research study, they should each have similar training so they perform the procedures and treatments consistently.

Some research methods are important to getting reliable results, such as: deciding the most important result to be looked for, choosing animals for each treatment at random, and measuring results without knowing which treatment each animal received. It is acceptable not to follow any of these methods because of the added costs.

For animal research paid for with public funds (for example, funding by government using tax dollars, or charitable foundations using donations), guidelines consistent with your answers above should be required.