Original Article

Reviews of ethics committee on animal experiments in a university: study results of 13 years

10.5455/gulhane.165878

  • Engin Kurt

Received Date: 04.08.2014 Accepted Date: 11.10.2014 Gulhane Med J 2015;57(4):392-396

In this study, the research files of the researchers who applied to ethics committee for animal experiments of a university hospital between 2001-2013 were examined retrospectively for two months. In the context of the investigation; the academic titles, the decisions, the desired animal species, animal species used by the departments, the number of the researches by the years in the 763 research files evaluated under main headings. As a result of the study performed, it was observed that all of the studies were carried out under the supervision of a expert or certified executive, the 33,9% of them were associate professor and 28,6% were assistant professor and maximum application of 48,6% is made by surgical department of medical science. The 97,1 percent the study applications were accepted, 2,5 percent were rejected, 2,1 percent of the application were required to be corrected and 3,7 percent of the studies were resulted in cancellation / withdrawal. Similarity to human in terms of structure and function, it was observed that the experimental mammal groups were more preferred and the “rat” was the most frequently utilized animal species due to the high rate of 64,9% comparing with the others. As a result of these findings, were evaluated as matters of importance: The alternative methods should be given pripority instead of animal experiments and fundamental ethical principles must be preserved. Furthermore, the suitable animal species and the minimum number should be determined according to the data to be obtained and researcher’s should have sufficent knowledge, experience and talent.

Keywords: Animal Experiments, Ethics, Ethics Committees.