Three days after the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine launched an ad campaign attacking Morristown (N.J.) Medical Center's use of live dogs for medical training, the hospital announced it will abandon the practice, according to NJ.com.
PCRM, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit research and advocacy organization, paid for three billboards attacking Morristown Medical Center's use of live dogs to train emergency medicine residents. The group claimed the dogs were euthanized after being used for medical training, according to the report.
The hospital came under fire after a PCRM survey of 160 hospitals revealed Morristown Medical Center was the only facility that used dogs in its training program. Eighteen hospitals indicated they used other live animals, according to the report.
The hospital initially defended the practice, saying it was necessary to use the dogs to demonstrate certain surgical procedures, and the dogs were used in a single, off-site course.
However, the hospital reversed course on Thursday, releasing a statement to NJ.com reading: "Having reviewed current widespread practices and replacements for animal use, Morristown Medical Center has determined that the use of animals is not essential for training of emergency medicine physicians." The hospital will begin using cadavers or simulators for the specialized training, according to the report.
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