Bob Barker Asks UVa to Stop Using Cats in Medical Training

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Updated: 12:14 PM Feb 20, 2012 Bob Barker Asks UVa to Stop Using Cats in Medical Training Newsplex/AP Former game show host Bob Barker is asking the University of Virginia to stop using live cats in medical training. Posted: 10:10 AM Jan 26, 2012 Email Address: news@newsplex.com

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January 26, 2012

Beloved game show host Bob Barker is asking the University of Virginia to stop using live cats in medical training.

Barker says in a letter to UVa. President Teresa A. Sullivan that he's concerned about the pain and suffering experienced by the animals. He says high-tech simulators should be used instead.

The Daily Progress received a copy of the letter from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. The committee also is seeking a halt to UVa.'s use of cats in training residents on how to insert breathing tubes in newborns.

The PCRM alleges the school "willfully inflicts upon animals inhumane injury and pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation" (Va. Code Ann. § 3.2-6570) in the live animal training part of its pediatrics residency program.

Last November, PCRM filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service over the same issues. The advocacy group says the test subjects may suffer tracheal bruising, bleeding, scaring and severe pain from the intubation that could result in death in some extreme cases.

PCRM says documents obtained through the Virginia Public Records Act show a history of the harm caused by the training. They say Callie, a female calico cat, suffered from a broken canine tooth caused by “blunt trauma", and Fiddle, a male calico, also suffered from a broken canine tooth as a result of this training.

University spokeswoman Carol Wood says UVa. hasn't yet received Barker's letter. She says the university's physicians believe the use of cats is the most effective teaching method available.

"Our physicians believe that the approach we take is more humane than sending physicians into practice to have their first real-world experience with this life-saving procedure occur on someone's critically ill newborn baby," she stated. "We take great care of the three cats that have become our working partners in training physicians to help us reach the goal of saving the lives of our tiniest patients."

PCRM believes UVa. should be held criminally liable and requests that Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Chapman investigate the claims.

Latest Comments

Posted by: tany on Jan 27, 2012 at 04:47 PM

whether animals are used for practice or not,the risks of tearing the trachea, permanent damage and scaring and death will still occur in infant intubation. Unfortunately the proof here is in how many infant lives have been lost or saved by using plastic models. Training on live tissue gives you a closer feel and "reaction" reflex one needs to feel when intubating your patient. If you check your facts before you print, you will know that lab animal standards exceed those placed in human hospitals. There is no way any physician or vet will stand by and let cruelty and suffering occur. These cats are highly valued and cared for.

Posted by: Calico Owner on Jan 27, 2012 at 12:39 AM

While calico does refer primarily to coloring, B and Duh do have a point. Calico males are pretty rare. A calico male has an extra X chromosome and is usually sterile. When someone says they have a calico, it is assumed to be female. On a side note, an orange female is sort of rare as well, but obviously not as rare as a calico male.

Posted by: s on Jan 26, 2012 at 09:52 PM

Check your facts. Calico refers to the coloring not the sex or breed.

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