From: itsmine@med.unc.edu (Greg Popken)
Subject: 60 min.  Cat Shooting
Organization: UNC-CH School of Medicine
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 16:11:22 GMT

  HI RUSSELL!  You'll never guess what I saw last night.  Yes, that's it. 
A segment on the cruel and henious cat shooting experiments of Dr. Michael
Carey M.D.
     For those of you who missed it let me give you a brief summary of the
segment.  The Ar movement is dangerous.
     O.K. a little more detail perhaps.  Dr. Michael Carey, serving in a
M.A.S.H unit in Vietnam, was bothered by the number of soldiers that died
as a result of head trama.  He even pointed out that every other name on
the memorial, whose death can be linked to a single injury, died from
brain trama.  
     Returning to the U.S. Dr. Carey started a research project on head
injury.  Using fully anesthetized cats (a point not mentioned by the AR
movement) Dr. Carey shot the cats with a air powered BB.  The purpose of
the experiment was to test the effects of drugs on recovery speed and
efficacy.  He was making progress.  Learning of the experiment AR
advocates started a letter writing campaign to Sen. Bob Livingston.  An
investigation by the Government Accounting Office followed.
     A panel of five neurologist reviewed the research.  Their findings? 
Dr. John Jane, head of the panel said that the research was "unique,
worthwhile and should be continued".  In addition they found that the
"treatment of the cats was humane".  Not liking the opinion of these
specialist, and still under the pressure of losing votes, Sen. Livingston
and the GAO set up a second panel.  This panel, composed of Veterinary
anesthesiologist.  Dr. Jane, head of the neurologist panel, thought that
this was insane, on the grounds that these "five distinguished people (the
vets) had not done any research on brain injury".  
     The second panels conclusions did not mention pain.  However, they
questioned the research, suggesting that the method of anesthesia used
biased the results of the experiment.  That's is five people who had
never done neurological research questioned the validity of the the data. 
Where as five neurologist concluded that the research was important and
definately worth pursuing.  And for reason, that appear to me, to be
perfectly political in nature the project was halted.  
     Note:  A spokesman for the Army said " Carey's research was worth
pursuing and, if they could, they would do it again."
     I'm not going to get into the details of the other shinanigans going
on.  That is the misrepresentation of the research by the AR advocates to
the public, or the threats and harassment endured by Carey and his wife. 
These are the standard practices of AR advocates.  We have all seen or
heard about them a hundred times.

     Note 2: I can't remember if we decide whether PCRM and Neals Bernard
were against all animal research {(postings from a few months ago.) (No
wait a minute... that's right my request to Russell for information on
this case was a few months ago) (the postings were from about 9 months ago)}
But, I DIGEST... I mean digress.  Dr. Bernard (who is quite photogenic I might
add) said
"Fact of the matter is, cruelty to animals is something that should offend
physicians.  And there are better ways of doing research."  It sounds to
me like we can put PCRM in the absolutionist column. 

I was almost saddened to learn of this case.  I was afraid, that now I'm
aware of what happened, I wouldn't have anything to harass Russell about.
 But, then I remembered that a few post ago Russell accused me of
misrepresenting information.  In essence calling me a lier.  There are
alot things that I am Russell, but intentionally dishonest is not one of
them.  I request that you either retract you statement or offer some proof.

(God, I hope I don't have to wait until 60 minutes does a segment on me to
get a response.)

Love me,
Greg Popken
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