Ethical considerations and standards

在用非人类灵长类动物进行实验是否、何时以及如何在伦理上正当的问题上，存在着巨大的争议。由于系统发育关系密切，许多人声称非人类灵长类动物是解决特定研究问题的最佳模式。相反，其他人认为，进化上的相似性正是他们反对用非人类灵长类动物进行实验的原因，因为这是一个原则问题。他们认为，支持非人类灵长类研究的伦理理由也应该适用于直接在人类身上进行研究。没有理由期望涉及非人类灵长类动物的研究在伦理上的合理性方面的道德分歧会消失，特别是在全球背景下。不管根本上持不同意见，都必须做出实际的决定。这一伦理研究项目的主要目的是提供伦理和历史背景，使人们能够在根本持不同意见的情况下作出非武断的决定。因此，五个研究目标是必不可少的：1.系统概述关于使用非人类灵长类动物进行研究的不同伦理立场的系统概述。将根据促进或反对非人类灵长类研究的程度来描述和排序职位。将提出伦理相关性的标准，并解释隐含的前提。2.非人灵长类研究伦理学及其文化背景的历史概述将阐述非人灵长类研究的伦理学及其文化背景的历史概述。在官方决定和条例的基础上，将阐述文化差异，并将其与伦理立场和论点的系统概述相关联。3.渐进主义范式对于根本的异议，将建立一个关于非人类灵长类研究的伦理可接受性的渐进主义模式。务实地继续，这个范例将提供一个排名顺序，从最可接受的研究环境到伦理上更有问题的研究环境一步一步地列出。这一务实的程序是基于这样一种信念，即即使在道义上有异议的情况下，也可能就哪些选择更多、哪些选择不那么可接受的问题达成共识。将分析逐步评估不同备选方案的基本论据。在这种渐进主义模式的背景下，论点可以作为生物医学研究中与其他道德决定一致的决定的基础。4.正式决定目录北美和欧洲与非人类灵长类研究有关的所有相关官方决定、条例和法律都将记录在一个目录中。通过互联网平台，我们将为研究小组的所有成员和其他人开放访问这个数据库。5.伦理咨询在课题组资助期间，我们为策划研究项目提供伦理咨询。我们就如何在考虑伦理维度的情况下设计非人类灵长类动物的实验提供建议。

There is great controversy on the questions whether, when and how experiments with non-human primates are ethically justifiable. Because of the close phylogenetic relationship, many claim that non-human primates are the best model to address particular research questions. On the contrary, others argue that exactly the evolutionary similarities are the reason why they object experiments with non-human primates as a matter of principle. They argue that ethical justification supporting non-human primate research should also hold true for doing the research directly on humans. There is no reason to expect that the moral dissent with respect to ethical justification of research involving non-human primates, particularly in a global context, will disappear. Regardless of the fundamental dissent, practical decisions have to be made. The main objective of this ethical research project is to provide the ethical and historical background for enabling non-arbitrary decisions in a situation of fundamental dissent. Therefore, five research goals are essential: 1. Systematic Overview A systematic overview of the different ethical positions on using non-human primates for research will be given. Positions will be described and ordered with respect to the degree of promoting or objecting research on non-human primates. The criteria of ethical relevance will be presented and implicit presuppositions will be explicated. 2. Historical Overview of Ethics of Non-human Primate Research and Its Cultural Background A historical overview of the ethics of non-human primate research and its cultural background will be elaborated. On the basis of official decisions and regulations, cultural differences will be set out and correlated to the systematic overview of ethical positions and arguments. 3. Gradualist Paradigm With respect to the fundamental dissent, a gradualist model will be set up concerning the ethical acceptability of non-human primate research. Proceeding pragmatically, this paradigm will provide a ranking order, which presents research settings step by step from the most acceptable ones to ethically more problematic ones. This pragmatic proceeding is based on the conviction that even in case of moral dissent a consensus might be possible about the question concerning which options are more and which options are less acceptable. The underlying arguments for the gradual assessment of the different options will be analysed. Against the backdrop of such a gradualist model, arguments can be provided as a basis for a decision in coherence with other moral decisions in biomedical research. 4. Directory of Official Decisions All relevant official decisions, regulations and laws with respect to non-human primate research in North-America and Europe will be documented in a directory. Via an internet platform we will provide open access to this database for all members of the research group and others. 5. Ethics Consultation During the funding period of the research group, we provide ethical consultation for planning research projects. We offer to give advice on how to design experiments with non-human primates with consideration of the ethical dimension.