Washington University Stops Using Cats For Medical Training

Washington University has ceased the usage of cats for practical training to medical students on the insertion of tubes needed for breathing assistance for babies. The tubes used to be pushed down the throats of the cats. This University was the last Institute to have been using animals for such practical training and demonstrations in the whole country. In a statement published by the University, it declared that the Institute has made a substantial investment in developing the simulation facilities. It would be doing away with the cats for the exercise and use dummy models and simulators for imparting the training.

A shift to simulator based training

As per the statement, this method for carrying out the demonstrations for giving the training had been done for more than twenty-five years, but no harm was inflicted on any of the animals. It was due to the further development of the simulator technology that shifting from the animal-based training has been possible. Since this shift is towards an ethical method of imparting training, it has been lauded by many persons across the nation. The cats which were in use in the trains at the School of Medicine are now open to adoption by the medical center staff.

Action in favor of Responsible Medicine

An ethical body comprised of physicians that support the prevention of cruelty to animals during medical treatment and training, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has hailed this move. They said that the usage of the cats was cruelty for these animals. The training can be best imparted through methods that would be more understandable through procedures more relevant for human beings. The Institute previously used ferrets too for training purposes, but that had been stopped long back.

University had faced severe criticism recently

The University was criticized off late for harming animals in the name of imparting training to students. It was alleged that the cats used for training were being injured with the breakage of teeth and puncture of lungs. A video was leaked in 2013 that showed the insertion of tubes into the throat of a cat brought about a lot of hue and cry. The University denied any harm and claimed to comply with the Animal Welfare Act standards. The Institute had refrained from using simulators citing that training could not be imparted fruitfully without the use of animals for demonstration. This change over is a major event in medical training in the U.S.