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Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
"Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation"

Newsletters
The Defender
From Spring 2009 Issue

Massachusetts General Hospital Tortures Rabbits & Monkeys

Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! has uncovered terrible cruelty inside the laboratories of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Recently obtained federal reports reveal mounting violations of the Animal Welfare Act within this facility involving experiments that deprive rhesus monkeys of water and cause burn injuries to rabbits.

The latest USDA inspection reports reveal that MGH amassed 19 violations during two inspections which include inadequate veterinary care, repeat violations by the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, unqualified personnel, and the filing of potentially fraudulent reports with regulatory agencies. MGH is cited repeatedly for experiments that deprive primates of water and for other experiments that burn rabbits.

“The negligence at Massachusetts General Hospital has illegally caused pain and suffering to rabbits and monkeys,” said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN. “This facility should face serious consequences,” he concluded.

Fraudulent reporting by MGH involved the total omission of experiments using primates. MGH is also cited repeatedly for the use of expired drugs, some of which were as much as 10 years out of date. These Animal Welfare Act violations were documented during two consecutive inspections for the period of June, 2006 to July, 2007.

Roger Tootell and Giorgio Bonmasser, MGH researchers, perform brain mapping experiments on monkeys that involve water deprivation, and are prime suspects for the related federal violations. These two projects bring a combined $670,000 per year to MGH.

“If a facility can’t adequately supervise experiments involving monkeys and rabbits then those projects should be immediately terminated,” added Budkie.

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