PETA News
Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas switches to more humane techniques
Big win for pigs.
In what is being hailed as a win for pigs, physicians, and patients, the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center has stopped using an inhumane technique.
According to a release, the medical center has curtailed the use of live pigs for invasive medical procedures in its OB/GYN residency-training programs, and has replaced them with animal-free methods.
Definitely a big win for pigs.
The institution discontinued the practice in response to overtures from PETA, as well as physicians.
PETA initially contacted UT Southwestern in 2021 as part of an ongoing survey of animal use in OB/GYN residency programs, and discovered that OB/GYN physician residents there routinely performed invasive procedures on live pigs, including laparoscopic hysterectomies, retroperitoneal dissections, and tissue morcellations, all described on the school’s website.
According to records obtained by PETA, residents performed invasive procedures on at least 13 live pigs.
PETA VP Shalin Gala thanked UT Southwestern for "ending its gruesome OB/GYN training methods in which live animals were mutilated" and making the more humane shift.
Beyond the cruelty aspect, pigs' anatomy is not the same as humans', and therefore a less effective way for physician residents to become familiar with human anatomical structures - versus animal-free methods which can simulate real medical situations, and provide students the opportunity to repeat procedures until they’re proficient.
In addition, federal provisions require that animal use be replaced when possible.
UT Southwestern joins dozens of OB/GYN residency programs across the country — including Rush University and Aurora Sinai Medical Center — in its use of animal-free methods such as in vitro systems, computer simulations, and high-fidelity human-patient simulators.
According to the release, there is still one notable slacker: Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. Whose director by the way is from El Paso. Come on, don't make the Class of 2024 have to mutilate live animals.
“PETA urges other institutions, including Oregon Health & Science University, to follow UT Southwestern’s lead by embracing superior, non-animal technology that allows OB/GYN trainees to repeat invasive procedures until they’re confident and adept,” PETA VP Gala says.
