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Safety goes head to head with right-to-know in animal research fights

By Richard Binder (index)

Scientific researchers whose work involves testing monkeys, dogs or other creatures sometimes face the wrath of animal-rights activists.

Now, their employers -- public universities and research institutions -- are curtailing information they once made public to protect the scientists, saying existing laws justify the blackout. Citing recent acts of violence against scientists, institutions are withholding identities, locations and other details from documents concerning experiments involving animals. Animal-rights groups, who worry institutions are covering up inhumane practices, are turning to the courts for help.

With mixed results, research institutions have lobbied for legislation that withholds animal researchers' identities. California recently made it a crime to publish the names of animal researchers or their family members and their addresses with the intent to commit violence. Similar legislation in South Dakota stalled as lawmakers cited concerns about limiting freedom of information.

Some of these efforts have landed the universities in court. The University of California was sued last summer by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a group that advocates eliminating the use of animals in research, to obtain records involving experiments. In its complaint, the group said "only through access to the records...can it be determined how public funds are being spent and how animals are being treated."

Read the full story at WSJ.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on February 26, 2009 (boomark / email).