Reducing Unrelieved Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals Using Humane Endpoints

Abstract

“Pain can be a common part of the patient experience: unrelieved pain has adverse physical and psychological effects” ( JCAHO 1999 ). “All patients have a right to pain relief” ( JCAHO 1999 ). These statements acknowledge the common occurrence of pain in human patients and the importance the medical profession and society place on recognizing and relieving pain. Similarly, the importance of managing pain in laboratory animals led to the establishment of policies ( PHS 1996 ), guidelines ( NRC 1992 ), and regulations ( USDA 1998 ) for pain management in laboratory animals several years ago. Both human and animal standards seek to minimize the occurrence of unrelieved pain. The new JCAHO standards seek to ensure that all pain in humans is appropriately managed. However, for some laboratory animals, management of unrelieved pain remains problematic because pain-reducing agents cannot be used.