The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges has released guidelines promoting the ethical sourcing of cadavers in veterinary student education and the use of animal alternatives when possible.
The Use of Animals in Veterinary Education Handbook, posted at bit.ly/4cx1ZF1, supplements the organization’s Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Veterinary Education, published in 2022.
The handbook’s two sections include:
- Chapters 1-4: Using cadavers and cadaver parts when teaching veterinary anatomy, clinical skills and other disciplines.
- Chapters 5-11: Using live animals in veterinary education.
Regarding cadaver acquisition and use, the AAVMC recommends:
- Cadavers should be acquired, used and disposed of respectfully and appropriately based on local context and culture.
- Institutions that teach with cadavers should audit and evaluate cadaver use annually.
- Alternative instructional models and technology should be considered where possible.
- Cadavers should be used strategically, purposefully and to the fullest extent possible.
- Cadavers should be responsibly and ethically sourced when they are necessary to meet the veterinary curriculum.
- Animals should not be euthanized solely for educational purposes. Cadavers used for teaching should be animals that died or were euthanized at or near their natural end of life.
- Willed-body programs can be an ethical cadaver resource.
- Cadavers may be purchased when necessary.
Highlights from the handbook concerning live animal use include:
- Institutions should implement a policy for animal use in education and identify alternatives when possible.
- Tasks and procedures teaching clinical skills should use models or simulations before live animals.
- Animals owned by students, staff, faculty or clients should be used as often as possible to reduce the need for on-site populations when practicing non-invasive skills.
- Institutions should implement a policy for ethically using animals from shelters or clients.
- Institutions should implement safety and welfare policies for the animals and students.