Prior ethical review of animal versus human subjects research

During the last decade the animal rights movement has garnered widespread support that now threatens the existence of animal research. Current public sentiment demands researcher accountability and documentation of the potential value of animal research that was largely assumed in the past. One way this can be accomplished is through prior review and approval of animal research protocols by the federally mandated institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC). IACUCs, however, face more difficulty in arriving at consistent and ethically correct decisions than human subject review committees or institutional review boards (IRBs). This article explains why and draws a comparison between animal and human subjects review.