The insertion of field research in the Brazilian guide for the care and use of laboratory animals.

Abstract

The Brazilian guide for the care and use of laboratory animals (AAALAC) supervised by the Animal Ethics Committees (AEC) intends to standardize procedures involving animals as experimental models. However, the promulgation of Law 11794/2008 included in the protection spectrum all research on vertebrate animals, generating conflicts with research conducted in nature. We aim to characterize the opinion of field researchers regarding their relationship with AEC. The results showed a low receptivity of the researchers to collaborate with the research. The respondents claiming to be overwhelmed to meet all the instruments of standardization of research with wild fauna, conceiving AEC as just another bureaucracy that delays the research and does not add to the previous processes. Conflicts go beyond formal issues as they confront different ethical conceptions. While environmental legislations are marked by principles and values ​​of ecocentric ethics, whose focus is the integrity of the ecosystem, the AAALAC values ​​the well-being of the individual. However, both aim at integrative research and reduction of animal suffering. Thus, for the intermediation of this dilemma, it is necessary the intervention of Bioethics, which through dialogue, pondering and common sense is able to lead to fair solutions for all the actors involved.