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Curriculum Change Loudly Applauded by All Animal Protectionists
Davis, Ca AVAR, a national animal rights organization,
is recognizing the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary
Medicine (UC Davis) for its decision to eliminate terminal
(non-survival) surgeries in its core teaching curriculum. This public
recognition comes in the form of a cash merit reward of $1000 to provide
additional alternative teaching programs. The revised surgical training
program for third-year students expands surgical training in neuter
procedures of dogs and cats and eliminates three terminal surgical
exercises.
"The new surgery curriculum is a big step forward for UC
Davis," said Ned Buyukmihci, VMD, president of the Association of
Veterinarians for Animal Rights and a professor of ophthalmology at the
veterinary school. "Terminal surgeries, which involve the killing of
healthy animals from shelters in order to train veterinary students, has
been a highly contentious issue for many years with a growing number of
veterinary students and animal protectionists. UC Davis has now become
one of the top few schools in the country to take progressive steps to
improve its curriculum by eliminating harmful surgical training
practices for its required courses. We are also encouraged by the fact
that UC Davis plans to eliminate terminal surgeries in its elective
courses, as well," he added.
The earlier curriculum involved three live animal
surgeries after which the students euthanized the animals. Students
would do six more live animal surgeries involving spays and castrations.
These dogs and cats were from five regional animal shelters and were
returned to the shelters for adoption. Over the past nine years more
than 85% of these animals have been adopted. The revised curriculum will
involve only survival surgeries. All animals will be returned for
adoption.
Terminal surgeries have become an ethical dilemma for a
growing number of veterinary students at UC Davis and at other
veterinary medical schools. To that end, Tufts University's School of
Veterinary Medicine recently eliminated all terminal surgeries in its
required and elective courses. Veterinary schools at the University of
Pennsylvania, University of Florida, Cornell University, and University
of Wisconsin have also eliminated terminal surgeries in their required
surgical curriculum. UC Davis now joins this list. "These changes
reflect a growing awareness in our society that animals' lives are
important and that people care what happens to them," said Teri Barnato,
AVAR's national director.
"The school has offered an alternative to terminal
surgery training for a decade," said John R. Pascoe, Executive Associate
Dean at the School. "Because students already receive some surgical
exposure on cadavers in surgical anatomy, the faculty has decided to
eliminate the terminal surgical exercises and replace them with more
survival surgical experiences. This accomplishes appropriate training in
anesthesia and surgery, increases opportunities for adoption of shelter
animals and eliminates student
concerns," he added. "As academically sound alternatives are being
developed we are also replacing terminal surgical exercises in elective
courses."
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