A study on animal scientists and students’ perception of bioethical issues
Abstract
Also, the concept of bioethics is evolving with all its inherent complexities. Animal scientists
have been given the task of defining objective and quantifiable parameters of animal’s status under
given conditions and providing solutions to emerging bioethical issues identified by society. The
present study was conducted to assess the perception of veterinary students and scientists about animal
bioethics. The study was conducted at Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and animal sciences,
Hisar. The number of respondents was 170.Attitude towards animal rights and perception about
xenotransplantation, stem cell research, factory farming and animal cloning was assessed. The
antecedent variables likely to affect students’ and scientists’ perception about bioethical issues were
selected - age, gender, educational qualification, history of pets, belief in animal mind, religiousness,
extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness. The attitude of the respondents
was neutral to favourable towards animal right. Similarly, a majority of respondents favourably
perceived technologies like xenotransplantation, stem cell research, factory farming and animal cloning
though all of these involve ethical complexities. Gender and education, significantly affected the
perception and attitude of respondents. It appears that veterinary education facilitates the adoption of a
utilitarian view of animals. Further research to understand the factors underlying the perception about
such issues is advocated. Also, the need for teaching of veterinary ethics is emphasized.Also, the concept of bioethics is evolving with all its inherent complexities. Animal scientists
have been given the task of defining objective and quantifiable parameters of animal’s status under
given conditions and providing solutions to emerging bioethical issues identified by society. The
present study was conducted to assess the perception of veterinary students and scientists about animal
bioethics. The study was conducted at Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and animal sciences,
Hisar. The number of respondents was 170.Attitude towards animal rights and perception about
xenotransplantation, stem cell research, factory farming and animal cloning was assessed. The
antecedent variables likely to affect students’ and scientists’ perception about bioethical issues were
selected - age, gender, educational qualification, history of pets, belief in animal mind, religiousness,
extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness. The attitude of the respondents
was neutral to favourable towards animal right. Similarly, a majority of respondents favourably
perceived technologies like xenotransplantation, stem cell research, factory farming and animal cloning
though all of these involve ethical complexities. Gender and education, significantly affected the
perception and attitude of respondents. It appears that veterinary education facilitates the adoption of a
utilitarian view of animals. Further research to understand the factors underlying the perception about
such issues is advocated. Also, the need for teaching of veterinary ethics is emphasized.