Moral dilemma involving research

[FrickenhugeMD]

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Alright, so I have an amazing opportunity to be part of some cutting edge cardiovascular research through my medical schools cardiovascular physiology department. I contacted one of lead researchers a few weeks back and set up an appointment to see if it would be possible to spend the summer assisting in a field I have some interest in. Anyways, the point is that this research is being done on live dogs, something I did not know going into this meeting.

These dogs are completely wired to test several different variables (GFR, CO, Pacemakers, the whole deal) and then they are left to recover for a period of time. They induce congestive heart failure and throw them on a treadmill testing a variety of things (Severe blood loss, pharmacological agents, ect.) In the lab I would be primarily responsible to train the dogs to be able to do these things and would also assist in the operations.

Here is where my moral dillema comes in. I absolutly love dogs and this tears me apart to be the person that trains them for their death. This is also a great project, with a good chance of getting 2nd or 3rd athor on a big paper (this lab generates about 2-3 papers a year). I feel like I would be selling my soul to do this everyday for 8 weeks, but it is also a really great opprotunity to build on. I know these dogs would otherwise be put down and this gives their life purpose, but it still seems wrong for me to be part of it.

I dont mind that others are doing this research, and I know that what is learned from these animals leads to helping people. I just don't know if I want to be part of it, or if I could look my dog in the eyes when I get home at the end of the day. This professor is even going out of his way to try to secure funding for me, so there is an aspect of guilt if I turn it down. I don't want to snub him and get burned in the future because of that.

What would you guys do? 🙁

 

[146233]

It seems to me you've really answered your own question. There will be other research opportunities and none by themselves are likely to make or break your career. Stick with your principles and find something you don't have such strong aversion to. Good luck.

 

[SomeDoc]

One of the projects I worked on required the killing of recombinant mice (including pups). I wanted to have no part in that. Someone else worked on it. I worked on the in-vitro aspect of things (hard benchwork), and things worked out well. I did, however, have an understanding PI. If you know you'll hate doing it, it's not worth it. Find something else- there's got to be other research going on out there you can work on that you'll enjoy and find rewarding.

 

[batch5000]

I'm sorry to say, but I would turn down the opportunity. Its not worth it to compromise one's personal morals to benefit their career. Even if the research is cool, you make a striking point about seeing your dog at home. You would never want to change the way you feel around him or her.

 

[cpants]

I don't know how strongly you feel about it, but you will probably get over the aversion in a week or two. Basically you should decide whether you are ok with being sensitized to sacrificing dogs. By the end of the project, it probably won't effect you much. Also, might be a good idea to talk to the PI about what kind of anesthesia and minimization of suffering will be a part of the project. I mean, if the only real pain the dogs will feel is a lethal injection, than that's not so bad.

 

[Red Leader]

There are regulations in place that outline what is a humane way to conduct research on animals. Get over your emotions and do it, or find a different job in the lab.

Personally I'd go ahead and do it, but I am good at suppressing my emotions.

 

[seelee]

There is one aspect that you havent thought of. We do know that animal research is necessary for meaningful medical advances, but it is not always conducted in the most humane manner.

If you think you could get past this and control your emotions, then you could be a "force for good" in helping to ensure that the animals were treated in an ethical, humane manner. And, you have excellent fodder for a stunning PS (though that should not be the main reason).

Then again, if you don't think you can. You should be honest with the professor and look for some other project, research group. You will not be good to anyone if you can't handle it.

 

[BozoSparky]

I couldn't do it either.

Don't beat yourself up if you decline...there's plenty of research out there that won't make you feel terrible.

 

[error404]

I don't know how strongly you feel about it, but you will probably get over the aversion in a week or two. Basically you should decide whether you are ok with being sensitized to sacrificing dogs. By the end of the project, it probably won't effect you much. Also, might be a good idea to talk to the PI about what kind of anesthesia and minimization of suffering will be a part of the project. I mean, if the only real pain the dogs will feel is a lethal injection, than that's not so bad.

The whole, "You'll get used to it" attitude really bothers me. I have done animal research, and it is true that after a while, it begins to seem normal and rote. I've also spoken with people responsible for mass murder (holocaust) who say the same thing. Just because you can get used to something doesn't make it okay.

If you decide to participate in this project, please familiarize yourself with the Milgram experiments. And try and think about how you'd possibly explain it to a date who asks, "so, what's your research about?"

Also think about, not only how the animals ultimately die (which is likely a very humane euthanasia,) but how they live, running on treadmills feeling dyspneic, having MIs, ect.

~error404 has done animal research, euthanized animals as a vet technician (which she's still fine with), been to Auschwitz and been told that the medicine there was forwarding science, and has strong opinions.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

Been in a similar situation. Turned it down. No regrets.

The fact that you posted about it in the first place leads me to believe that you'd if not regret the decision (if you did choose to do this research), at least continue to wonder if you did the right thing.

At the end of the day, it's more important to be happy with what you see in the mirror than what's on your resume.

And as others have said there will be a lot more opportunity to do research. To avoid future ethical dilemmas, just head straight for the faculty doing clinical and translational research on people.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

There is one aspect that you havent thought of. We do know that animal research is necessary for meaningful medical advances, but it is not always conducted in the most humane manner.

If you think you could get past this and control your emotions, then you could be a "force for good" in helping to ensure that the animals were treated in an ethical, humane manner. And, you have excellent fodder for a stunning PS (though that should not be the main reason).

Then again, if you don't think you can. You should be honest with the professor and look for some other project, research group. You will not be good to anyone if you can't handle it.

Just a personal opinion here, but there's a whole lot more basic research than has been actually applied to clinical and translational settings. And it seems that as time goes on, we get more wrapped up in the details and minutiae rather than the main driving factors.

As an example, we have barely begun to scratch the surface in manipulating the various nutrition and exercise variables in humans.

This isn't to say that there isn't more important work to be done in bench research (self-harvested adult stem cells being one of the things that holds a lot of promise for degenerative disease that still needs a lot of benchwork).

Just that there is an absolute ****-ton of work to be done in taking extant large, promising findings from bench research and applying them to humans in clinical serttings.

 

[cpants]

The whole, "You'll get used to it" attitude really bothers me. I have done animal research, and it is true that after a while, it begins to seem normal and rote. I've also spoken with people responsible for mass murder (holocaust) who say the same thing. Just because you can get used to something doesn't make it okay.

If you decide to participate in this project, please familiarize yourself with the Milgram experiments. And try and think about how you'd possibly explain it to a date who asks, "so, what's your research about?"

Also think about, not only how the animals ultimately die (which is likely a very humane euthanasia,) but how they live, running on treadmills feeling dyspneic, having MIs, ect.

~error404 has done animal research, euthanized animals as a vet technician (which she's still fine with), been to Auschwitz and been told that the medicine there was forwarding science, and has strong opinions.

Yes, this is true, but just because an animal has to suffer doesn't make it wrong either. My point was, the OP is unlikely to have long lasting psychological effects or even aversion to the work if she goes through with it. You get used to what you're doing, even if it involves causing pain to animals.

 

[error404]

Yes, this is true, but just because an animal has to suffer doesn't make it wrong either.

See, this is where we start to disagree. 🙂

To each their own. To the OP, make the decision that suites you best. But keep in mind, judgmental people like myself, who feel that project you described is cruel, will make assumptions about who you are as a person.