Defense Department to reduce use of live animals for medical training

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/11/13/defense-department-live-animals/18978057/

Defense Department to reduce use of live animals for medical training
By Patricia Kime, Staff writer 2:43 p.m. EST November 14, 2014

The Pentagon will scale back its use of live animals in medical training starting Jan. 1, the Defense Department's top doctor has said. Instead, military health professionals will use simulators or other models in key areas of training and education such as advance trauma life support, neonatal resuscitation, obstetrics and gynecology and more.
(snip)

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Jonathan Woodson said Friday that advanced technology and training have enabled the services to use fewer live animals in training.
(snip)

The change does not appear to affect other training where live animals are used, including combat trauma training courses and survival training.

The protection of those animals remains a top priority for PETA, Goodman said. "The primary concern of ours has been the use of animals in combat trauma training in which they are shot, stabbed and blown up, and while this new memo addresses some of it, it doesn't seem it will affect much of that kind of animal use," Goodman said.

(snip)