A years-long push by animal rights activists to halt the use of live pigs in medical training might be making headway at Oregon Health & Science University.
The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on Tuesday released public records showing that as of April 16, 2024, the university’s obstetrics and gynecology residency training program would not conduct its “pig lab” this year, “due to decreased enthusiasm from the Chief resident class.”
Activists have been showing up at university board meetings holding protest signs while dressed as pigs wearing bloody smocks, and billboards have also echoed the message. The release of records, which accompanied a letter sent by PETA to the university signed by 175 physicians, may be the first clear sign that the campaign is having an effect. It shows that top leadership at OHSU earlier this year asked for information related to the campaign
The OHSU communications unit did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Emails shed light on internal debate
The “decreased enthusiasm” quote came from an email to top OHSU leaders from an unidentified source, apparently a university official, under the subject header “review of the pig model.”
The seven-month-old email, which appears to answer questions asked by OHSU leadership, indicates that the pigs are used to “teach techniques in laparoscopic entry, hysterectomy, bladder injury and repair, bowel injury and repair, and great vessel injury and repair.”
It states that “the pig lab is significantly cheaper than obtaining more fresh frozen cadavers, on the order of several thousand dollars.” It also said the department of obstetrics and gynecology would be conducting a review over the spring “to study the utility of the pig lab... [to] determine whether it will continue.”
The records shared by PETA do not include the outcome of the review. But they appear to indicate that some residents chose to skip the training involving live pigs, using an opt-out clause the university says it offers all residents.
“There are many residents planning to forego the pig lab this year,” one email from February states.
University defends stance
The PETA campaign in Oregon is part of a national one joined by an allied group called Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Media reports indicate similar efforts target University of Missouri's emergency medicine residency program and the school of medicine at Western Michigan University, among others.
The Nov. 12 letter to OHSU board Chair Chad Paulson and interim President Steve Stadum, the group thanks the residents who opted out of the pig training, adding that as a result of the program being on hold this year, “PETA will temporarily pause further protests, including our presence at future board meetings.”
It includes a brief citing research indicating that nonanimal testing is also effective, and says other institutions are halting the practice, including the Henry Ford hospital in Michigan.
Previously, OHSU has said it follows ethical guidelines regarding the use of live animals in training, and “fully embraces the responsibility to provide compassionate, quality care that comes with the privilege of working with animal models.” It has called the use of animals “essential to ensuring future surgeons have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide safe, high-quality care.” It has said it will move toward non-animal models when the technology improves.
