Fears for primates in transplant experiments

The National Anti Vivisection Campaign is disappointed that the Bioethics Council has allowed xenotransplantation to go ahead in its report on "The cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of animal-to-human transplantation".

Campaign members oppose xenotransplantation, and all vivisection, on both ethical and scientific grounds.

"Apart from the ethics of using animals in any way we please, xenotransplantation is an expensive, inefficient way of treating human disease, and because of the inherent differences between animals and humans, we have no idea whether it will work," campaign spokesman Dr Michael Morris said.

"It is also diverting funds away from more pressing health needs such as public health and prevention.

"We have been continually emphasising the way in which animal ethics committees are stacked in favour of researchers, are not accountable to the public, and do not consider non-animal alternatives when approving vivisection experiments", said Morris.

"It is therefore pleasing that our concerns are being taken seriously and the Bioethics Council has resolved to draw this issue to the attention of the minister responsible for animal ethics committees "

The campaign also supports the recommendation that all primates be given the same protection under the Animal Welfare Act as currently enjoyed by the great apes.

"Trials on xenotransplants, especially organ transplants, are often conducted on primates overseas," said Morris, "and these painful experiments will be encouraged to continue."