> In a study that wouldn't be permitted today, rats swam in glass cylinders filled with water, eventually drowning from exhaustion if they weren't rescued.
Who permits studies? Why would this study NOT be permitted today?
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) or ethics committees instituted at universities, hospitals, and private research orgs ensure research adheres to ethical standards, balancing scientific benefits against potential harm to subjects. In the United States, IRBs must be registered with the Department of Health and Human Services and comply with FDA regulations.
Yes, moral grounds, I'm sure. But there are all sorts of abhorrent treatment of animals - abattoirs, indoor farming, force feeding, etc, etc - so, why is it a moral line to drown rats in the way described? Who decides this stuff?
You're asking a genuine question but careful not to sink too deep into whataboutism.
Just because abhorrent treatment of animals exists in one industry doesn't mean it's OK for it to appear in another, or in this case, in the field of science.
As you can imagine, there isn't a single combined committee for these two...
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