Help us end the use of live dogs in a trauma training course at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (UM). Documents obtained by PCRM under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act reveal that UM is using lost or surrendered pets—including a silver-and-black malamute named Koda—from Michigan shelters for the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course. At UM, this course involves cutting open live, anesthetized dogs and practicing emergency medical procedures. After the training session, the animals are killed. All of this happens even though UM owns a validated nonanimal teaching method as part of its state-of-the-art medical simulation center. While a handful of institutions like UM continue to use live animals, the American College of Surgeons, the ATLS oversight body, has approved nonanimal models like the TraumaMan System, Synman, and human cadavers for these courses. Across the U.S. and Canada more than 90 percent of ATLS courses are taught using only human-based simulators. Please call, e-mail, or write a letter to UM executive vice president for medical affairs Robert P. Kelch, M.D., and politely ask him to end animal use in the institution’s ATLS courses. Being polite is the most effective way to help these animals. Send an automatic e-mail today. Robert P. Kelch, M.D. Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs M7324 Medical Science Building, Box 0626 University of Michigan Health System 1500 E. Medical Center Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48109 E-mail: rkelch@... Phone: 734-647-9351 On Jan. 14, 2009, PCRM filed an official complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (PDF), citing the unlawful use of live animals by UM. The complaint cites an ongoing 2007-2008 survey by PCRM, which has so far received responses from 197 U.S. and Canadian facilities offering ATLS courses. The survey has found that 180 of those facilities (more than 90 percent) exclusively use nonanimal models for instruction. In addition, the vast majority of those 180 facilities exclusively use the TraumaMan System. Read the recent Detroit Free Press article on this issue. Learn more about the TraumaMan System and UM’s simulation center. If you have any questions, please contact me at rmerkley@... or 202-686-2210, ext. 336. Thanks so much for your help! Best regards,   Ryan Merkley Manager of Humane Education Programs   Donate Now Join PCRM Renew Your Membership Ryan Merkley Research Program Coordinator rmerkley@... Read more about TraumaMan Subscribe to future PCRM e-mail communications
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine 5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400 Washington, DC 20016	Phone: 202-686-2210 E-mail: info@...

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