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Live dogs used for trauma training
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Yesterday, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has requested the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to look into "the use of live dogs in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) courses at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (UM)."
APHIS is part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and as such defines and sets the standards of humane treatment of animals for this country. ATLS course work is usually taught with a non-animal simulator method, like the TraumaMan System. TraumaMan, for example, is an anatomical human body mannequin that simulates human anatomy including cartilage, ligaments and veins. It also has organs that can be perfused with fluids and the lungs even inflate. And yes, it bleeds…
So why is UM teaching the ALTS course by currently cutting open live, anesthetized dogs and practicing emergency medical procedures? After the practice session, the animals are killed. Ironically UM has its own state-of-the-art simulation lab, so why use live dogs?
Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) is a training program physicians go through for 'hands on' training in the treatment of traumatic, life threatening injuries. Now, I am all for physicians having relevant, up to date 'hands on' training before treating anyone (human) however, the problem is the 'hands on' training given at (UM) is practiced on creatures without hands – just four paws!
A survey of the 164 facilities that provide ALTS coursework found of the 150 respondents more than 90 percent use exclusively non-human models and no longer inflict injuries on dogs for practice. So, why is UM using live dogs?
PCRM is asking for letters of protest to be sent to UM. This can be done by writing or internet.
Robert P. Kelch, M.D.
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs
M7324 Medical Science Building, Box 0626
University of Michigan Health System
1500 E. Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
E-mail: rkelch@med.umich.edu
Phone: 734-647-9351
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs
M7324 Medical Science Building, Box 0626
University of Michigan Health System
1500 E. Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
E-mail: rkelch@med.umich.edu
Phone: 734-647-9351
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) news release shows the complaint filed with the USDA.
To register a complaint on behalf of the animals being killed at UM send an email.
Having worked in healthcare my entire professional career I have seen how important it is for emergency department physicians and nurses to be skilled and current with practice standards and knowledge. I don't believe there is any advantage to experimenting on live dogs. There are other options… non-animal training simulators and cadavers.
Go ahead… make my day… contact UM to protest.
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