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ALTERNATIVES |
 Alternative Methods for Humane Education
Generally speaking, an „alternative method“ to animals experimentation is understood in terms of the so-called 3Rs (reduction, refinement a replacement), which have become a basis in creation of legislation for all experimental activities with animals. The term „reduction“ refers to any strategy that will result in less animals being used,4 e.g instead mass decapitation of frogs by students in physiology courses for experiments with their nerves, such experiment is performed by teacher and students only observe. „Refinement“ signifies the modification of any procedures that operate from the time a laboratory animal is born until its death, so as to minimise the pain and distress experienced by the animal and enhance its well-being.4 In the case of education, „refinement“ could be field studies, when studied animal behaviour is observed on animals in the wild rather than on laboratory animals. And finally, „replacement“ of an experiment with an alternative method which does not involve the use of whole, live animal.4 Such alternative is, for example, interactive multimedia CD-ROM that simulates experiments which may be performed on animal’s isolated heart or nerve within physiology or pharmacology courses. Some of the „replacing“ methods still include the killing of animals though, for the acquisition of cells, tissue, or organs for furher in vitro studies and are only partial replacements. But these can be further replaced by plant sources, e.g. for studying cell respiration or electron transport, mitochondria can be sourced from turnips, potato or beet instead of rat liver.5
| Type of Faculty | Type of experiment | Alternatives |
| Medical Faculties
| Pathological physiology – experimental ulceration in rats | video, or photographs7 |
| Pharmacology – demonstrations of various drugs effects on animals both in vitro and in vivo | demonstrations on CD-ROM or video |
| Veterinary Faculties |
Surgical skills – anaesthetisation, operation and suturing of rats | as the first step video of various operations to see surgical techniques, simulators or ethically sourced cadavers for skills training, clinical practice on real patients with supervision of expert veterinarian |
| Critical Care – intubation of live animals | mannekins |
| Natural Sciences Faculties |
Anatomy, morphology - dissection of rat | CD-ROMs, video, plastinated animals |
| Metabolism – measuring of O2 intake and CO2 outake in mice | CD-ROMs, student self-experimentation |
So the historical definition of an alternative as an approach or a method which replaces a classic animal experiment has been broadened to include improvements of life conditions for animals kept for educational purposes such as enrichment of cages. Therefore alternatives in education embraces humane educational aids and teaching approaches that replace invasive animal use or complement existing humane education. Typically used in combination to meet existing teaching objectives and to provide other educational outcomes that cannot be met through animal experiments, they comprise:3,6
Models, mannekins and Simulators
These range from inexpensive models and surgical training devices, right up to computerised mannequins. Basic models can contribute to the study of anatomy or facilitate the learning of good animal handling without animal stress and student anxiety. The diversity of surgical training devices available include models of skin, internal organs and limbs which can provide opportunities for students to master basic skills such as eye-hand co-ordination, the use of instruments, and techniques such as suturing. Waste organ training devices allow for the use of real tissue in the process. More complex products include mannekins used to train IV skills, intubation and catheterisation of animals, and critical care from resuscitation to thoracentesis. Computerised mannequins add another level of complexity and support to the effective training of students.
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