Taking Ethical Considerations Into Account?

lic. iur. Vanessa Gerritsen

Stiftung für das Tier im Recht (TIR)27 March 2013, Messerli Research Institute, Vetmed Vienna

Harm-benefit analysis in Switzerland

• harm-benefit analysis as integral part of Swiss animal experimentation legislation

• severity grade catalogue (available at www.bvet.admin.ch)

• accountability of applicants– prospective evaluation– retrospective evaluation

Harm-benefit analysis in theory and practice

• Art. 19 Abs. 4 TSchG (Animal Welfare Law)

infliction of pain, suffering, damage or anxiety to an animal must not be licensed if there is no evidence of a benefit overbalancing the animal's suffering

Theory and Practice: nodding acquaintances

Harm-benefit analysis in theory and practice

• in practice: mere formality

explanation that the meant project is able to contribute to the development of new therapies

rather 3R boards (with focus on refinement and reduction)

Self-evaluation tool (http://tki.samw.ch/)

Indispensable limit

• the three stages of proportionality

applicabilitynecessityharm-benefit analysis

• doubts about applicability or necessity influence harm-benefit analysis! harm:

severity concretenes

s

benefit: importance concreteness

Closing words

• focus on implementation

vast deficiencies in practice: reduction to formalityuntouchable science stuck in tradition

• examination of implementation

• authorities decisions have to be strenghtened

Thank you

gerritsen@tierimrecht.orgwww.tierimrecht.org