INVESTIGADORES
RUBILAR PANASIUK Cynthia Tamara
artículos
Título:
Moving forward in the ethical consideration of invertebrates in experimentation: Beyond the Three R?s Principle
Autor/es:
CRESPI-ABRIL, AUGUSTO; RUBILAR, TAMARA
Revista:
REVISTA DE BIOLOGíA TROPICAL
Editorial:
REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA TROPICAL
Referencias:
Lugar: Turrialba; Año: 2021
ISSN:
0034-7744
Resumen:
Introduction: The Three R ́s Principle (Refinement, Reduction, andReplacement), postulated more than 60 years ago, is the main ethical framework currentlyapplied for conducting animal research. This principle has never been reviewed applying aphilosophical reflection during all of these years, even though a variety of animal ethicsstudies have presented new insights. The Three R ́s Principle was designed to be used as apolicy tool to ameliorate the suffering of animals and to reduce the use of animals in research,but has failed in achieving these goals. This principle is only applied when using sentiencevertebrates, and fails to consider invertebrates as their capacity to sentience is still disputed.In this way, invertebrates are reified, which has been determined to be detrimental as theirsuffering has been consistently denied. As a consequence, new insights are necessary toimprove scientific practices. Epistemology and ethics have always been viewed as opposingapproaches. ́Epistemology-based Ethics? subordinate ethical concern to scientific facts and?Ethics-based Epistemology? purports that ethical practice should guide epistemologicalpractices. Objective: In this paper, we maintain that unifying both approaches under abroader conceptual framework may result in the view that these are not, actually, oppositeapproaches. We propose to progress beyond the Three R?s Principle and extend it to aposition equal to the level of the ethical and epistemological approaches. We also propose touse the Precautionary Principle as it is always better to be safe than sorry, and to include twomore Rs. Methods: This paper is based on the analysis of different ethical frameworks usedin biology and ecology that can be implemented in invertebrates experimentation. Results:The analysis revealed that different ethical approaches are frequently used in biologicalresearch, but not all of them are implemented in experimental research that involvesinvertebrates. We argue that the ethical considerations used in any research field can beimplemented in invertebrate research. Conclusion: We propose a Five R ́s Principle: thetraditional Refinement, Reduction, and Replacement, used along with Respect andResponsibility (a respectful relationship with every living being regardless of its complexityand personal commitment to conscientiously apply ethics concepts).