Concern over the use of dogs in a University laboratory class has prompted discussion over appropriate teaching techniques.
The course in question is Advanced Life Saving Techniques, which teaches students lifesaving procedures such as airway placement, catheterization of the jugular, femoral cut down and placement of a chest tube, said David Hudson, associate vice president for research and graduate studies.
A total of 96 dogs, which the University purchased from a breeder, are used annually for the class.
The Citizens for Humane Medicine disagree with the University's teaching techniques.
Rooshin Dalal, co-founder of the group, urges the University to use alternative teaching methods.
Alternative techniques include human cadavers, computer simulations and interactive operating room experience, Dalal said.
One example of a computer simulation, a realistic, computer-operated model, mimics a live human patient. The skin is the same texture as a human's and the vessels bleed in the model simulation, Dalal said.
Additionally, the operating room experience allows students to work closely with surgeons, observing everything from pre-surgery sterile techniques to post-surgery patient recovery.
Dalal said the alternative techniques are realistic and offer a better experience for students. He said he believes that animals are not valid substitutes for humans.
"They take the lab and think that they can save a human life, which is incorrect," Dalal said.
Hudson said the dogs are used because they are the closest alternative to humans.
"It would be better to do this on real people, but since we cannot do that, [using the dogs] is still better than nothing," Hudson said.
The University is looking into using computer simulations, but Hudson said the model has some downsides. Primarily, simulations prevent students from feeling the adrenaline of a real procedure.
"Simulators are not the real world," Hudson said. "When you are dealing with a patient, there is no reset button and you cannot do it over again. Students might get used to [surgery] as a fancy video game."
Dalal said 103 out of 126 national medical schools do not use animals.
"Many schools are dropping the use of animals because they realize there are better teaching methods," Dalal said. "U.Va. is behind the times."
Course curriculum is reviewed annually, Hudson said, which allows faculty to find the best, most appropriate model system.
To inform community members of the teaching techniques, Citizens for Humane Medicine will present information on the dog lab. Physician panelists will discuss alternative teaching techniques Feb. 10 at the Albemarle County Building. Additionally, a candlelight vigil will be held Feb. 16, the day of the next dog lab.
"We are interested in educating community members," Dalal said. "We hope that this will lead a lot of community members to speak their mind and think twice about donations. We want to show that no one in the community wants this to happen."
Dalal said he hopes Citizens for Humane Medicine will inspire a change in teaching methods.
"Twelve dogs lose their lives at the hands of medical students," Dalal said. The dog lab "does not teach respect for life"
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