DOD required to justify animals in medical training

A medical simulator mannequin emits audio alerting students to what part of the body hurts during a medical training seminar, part of the multi-nation Cobra Gold 2012 exercise, in Chanthaburi province, Thailand, Feb. 10, 2012. / USMC/Cpl. Jessica Olivas

Animals rights activists have long criticized the Pentagon for the use of "live tissue training" -- namely, anesthetized but living animals -- in order to teach combat medical personnel how to treat gunshot wounds or severed limbs.

This week, the Defense Department must tell Congress how it plans to shift away from the use of animals, or justify continuing the practice.

Under Section 736 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, the Secretary of Defense is required to submit to congressional defense committees no later than March 1 a strategy and timeline for a transition from using live animals in training for the treatment of combat trauma injuries.

The report must also include any risks associated with a potential reduction in the quality of medical care on the battlefield owing to an end to using live animals in training combat medical personnel.

The Washington Post reports this is the first time Congress has ordered the Defense Department to provide a detailed plan on how to rely less on animals and more on simulators, such as mannequins.

The military has used animals in its medical training since the Vietnam War, but in the mid-1980s protests against plans to subject anesthetized dogs to gunshot wounds led then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger to halt the practice with canines (though not with other animals, such as goats and pigs).

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Over the years animal groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have called on the military and private groups to end such training with animals. Civilian training courses today often employ life-like simulators that mimic human reactions and spurt "blood."

"Congress now acknowledges that it is wrong to harm animals for crude medical training exercises if modern and superior alternatives are available," Justin Goodman, the director of laboratory investigations for PETA, told the Washington Post.

Last April PETA released what it said was a whistleblower video of a Coast Guard training session in Virginia Beach in which an anesthetized goat had its legs removed with tree trimmers.

As the Post's Ernesto Londono writes, however, some combat medics may not feel mannequins offer enough preparation. Former Army combat medic Michael Bailey, who served two tours in Iraq, told Londono that he froze when treating his first victim of an artillery attack in Kirkuk. Later he took an advanced course that included a sedated goat that had been slashed and was bleeding.

"You don't get that feeling of, 'This mannequin is going to die,'" Bailey told Londano. "When you're talking about keeping someone alive when physics and the enemy have done their best to do the opposite, it's the kind of training that you want to have in your back pocket."

For more on this story visit The Washington Post.

[Blindmike76g]

I know let them use Federal Inmates. Then I will feel all the money we spend on their care is worth it in some small way.

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

I think one of my worst memories was that of a beautiful dog who died for us to practice putting in a trach tube. I was not fully aware that he was to die until we had all practiced and the instructor said he would then "shut him down." As he did it he said "I remember this one" indicating he was a dog who stood out. That was back in the mid-1980s. It bothers me now all these decades later. Yes, these immoral practices need to end. As a career military person I fully support our government ending the atrocities on these helpless creatures who trusted us.

[mary-miami]

This is horrible. Using animals that have the potential for being domesticated pets is animal abuse. No dogs or cats should be used...These animals have a sixth sense and probably realize they're going to be hurt. If animals must be used then let it be the ones that are typically sold for food, such as pigs.

[matt6052]

This is an interesting issue because the type of injury that they inflict upon the animals is abhorrent to all, and people forget that it's the exact horrific injury that people experience in military combat.

[Meezermom1951]

Paramedics state side do not train on live animals at all and yet they are expected to step up and save people. So the combat medic talked to is full of bull. I would guess he might just like to mutilate animals. Cutting up living animals does not teach any skills at all. Maybe it has to do with the people who go into the military medics don't get the choice in career while the ones state side do. They choose it because they truly care about saving lives and not taking any others. In dislike PETA in every form and feel they are full of it but in this, there is no justification for DOD to continue with animal abuse.