Using animals to benefit animals: How should the UK veterinary profession manage the social and ethical implications of the clinical use of donated companion animal blood and tissue? (360G-Wellcome-100526_Z_12_Z)

The use of healthy human blood and tissue in transfusion, transplant, researchand biobanking is commonplace and social and ethical issues such as motivation, consent, harm and altruism have long been debated. The first pet blood bank in the UK was launched in 2007. Vets are now embracing transfusion medicine and learning from the medical profession and other countries such as the USA, where animal blood banking and organ transplantation have been in existence for over 20 years. A further recent UK development is Veterinary Tissue Bank. The current growth of this area of veterinary medicine urgently demands a close examination of the social and ethical justification for such practices; providing a sound basis for progression. This project will generate novel empirical data on the values and expectationsof animal owners, the veterinary profession and other stakeholders. It will identify ethical similarities and differences between the medical and veterinary fields by reviewing existing literature. Dissemination will includepublications and presentations aimed at academics in social science, bioethicsand veterinary ethics, clinicians and the general public. Ultimately the project aims to produce policy recommendations for the veterinary community about the current and future regulation of these kinds oftechniques and technologies.