I don't think the issue here cruelty. I think it is more so that this practice is outdated and pointless. Almost all schools use the simulators. I am a nursing student myself and we use them all the time. They easily replace animals and are much more accurate. They are not pieces of rubber and junk a company threw together. A lot of research goes into making these simulators which is part of the reason they are so expensive. They are very useful though. The anatomy is almost exact (more exact than a ferret by far) and are the closest thing you will get to a real patient. Some of the simulators we have worked with are truly amazing. So why does this college use ferrets? One of the doctors there says the 28 week old model isn't small enough. It obviously works though, most schools use it and produce successful doctors. I think people are upset that this practice is still going on because one doctor thinks it is necessary when it truly isn't. [AZ] [Posted in FML 7207]