Hey all!
This is in response to Laura Young's post about some medical schools
practice of using ferrets to learn intubation techniques.  When I was a
medical student I went through this process, though we used kittens.  The
purpose was to learn how to properly intubate (or in layman's terms, put a
breathing tube in) newborns and premature babies.  While we used kittens,
the lab people said that they sometimes used ferrets as well.  But the lab
people said that they always adopted the kittens and ferrets out afterward-
never killed them.  A friend of mine actually adopted the kitten we
intubated.  And no animal was ever used more than 3 intubations, and never
was anesthetized more than once for the procedure.  So other than possibly a
little bit of a sore throat afterward, I don't believe these animals were
abused.  As a huge animal lover and a doctor (tho not currently practicing)
I have mixed feelings about the use of animals in research.  I DON'T condone
any abusive treatment or the sacrifice of animals, but sometimes the
definition of "abuse" is blurry.  I also know that the experience gained is
very valuable- who would want their newborn child being intubated by a
doctor who had never tried such a delicate procedure on such a small being?
I also can't speak for any other medical schools regarding their policies of
the use of animals for things like this, nor is there any way I can be
absolutely sure that all the animals used ARE adopted out, but I did feel as
if these people cared for the animals so I believe them.
 
They even had a "resident" ferret who seemed very well cared- for.  He was
in a huge cage and got let out often, and he was huge and beautiful.  I
can't believe that people that cared so much for this gorgeous creature
could turn around and willingly destroy so many other animals, and I don't
think they did.  But that's just my two cents worth, and I'm sure I'll be
horribly flamed.  Just wanted to say that my belief is that not all "lab
people" believe in torturing and destroying animals just for the sake of
science.  There ARE exceptions!
 
Love to all-      jamie
[Posted in FML issue 2030]