ÉTICA E LEGISLAÇÃO NA EXPERIMENTAÇÃO ANIMAL: REFLEXOS NA ENFERMAGEM E NA PESQUISA MÉDICA

Abstract

Animal experimentation is a fundamental practice for the advancement of medical science, enabling the development of new medicines, treatments, and clinical procedures. However, it involves significant ethical issues related to the welfare of the animals used. In Brazil, the legislation regulating the scientific use of animals, particularly Law No. 11.794/2008, establishes strict standards to minimize animal suffering and ensure the accountability of researchers. Furthermore, nursing plays an important role in animal experimentation, participating in direct animal care and the application of ethical and legal protocols. This study aims to analyze the impact of ethics and legislation on animal experimentation, emphasizing the role of nursing and its impact on medical research. To this end, qualitative bibliographic research was conducted through the analysis of scientific articles, legislation, and institutional documents found in the SciELO, PubMed, LILACS, and Google Scholar databases, published over the last 15 years. Descriptors such as "ethics in animal experimentation," "legislation on the use of animals in research," "nursing and animal experimentation," and "medical research and animal ethics" were used. The selection considered only scientifically based materials, excluding opinionated publications or those lacking academic support. The collected data were organized thematically for discussion. The results indicate that the "3Rs" principles—replacement, reduction, and refinement—are widely adopted as an ethical basis for animal experimentation, promoting alternatives that replace the use of animals whenever possible, reducing the number of animals used, and refining techniques to minimize suffering. Brazilian legislation, particularly Law No. 11,794/2008, strengthens the ethical oversight of research by requiring prior evaluation by specific ethics committees. Nursing plays an essential role in animal handling and compliance with regulations, although there are challenges in training professionals to act with greater knowledge and responsibility. The conclusion is that ethics and legislation in animal experimentation are fundamental to ensuring responsible and humane scientific practices. The work of nursing professionals is vital to ensuring proper care for animals and compliance with legal and ethical standards. Continuing education for these professionals contributes to strengthening ethics in research. Furthermore, current legislation provides the necessary legal basis to protect animals and legitimize scientific studies, while the search for alternative methods drives the development of a more ethical, sustainable, and respected science.