Morristown Medical Center ending use of live dogs for E.R. training

Image of a dog from billboard campaign protesting training program at Morristown Medical Center
Image of a dog from billboard campaign protesting training program at Morristown Medical Center
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By Kevin Coughlin

Responding to criticism from a doctors organization, Morristown Medical Center on Thursday said it would cease performing training procedures on live dogs.

“Having reviewed current widespread practices and replacements for animal use, Morristown Medical Center has determined that the use of animals is not essential for training of emergency medicine physicians. As such, Morristown Medical Center will begin using either simulators or cadavers for this specialized, annual training,” hospital spokesperson Elaine Andrecovich said in a statement.

The hospital had been targeted by billboards in a campaign by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Image of a dog from billboard campaign protesting training program at Morristown Medical Center
Image of a dog from billboard campaign protesting training program at Morristown Medical Center

That Washington, DC-based nonprofit told NJ.com that few medical training programs still use live animals for medical training, and that the animals used by Morristown Medical Center sometimes survive the procedures but all are destroyed afterward.

Initially, the hospital defended the annual four-hour session, conducted offsite at an undisclosed location by an unnamed third party, as essential for teaching skills to emergency doctors in its residency program.

Trish O’Keefe, a career nurse and administrator named hospital president earlier this year, owns a black Labrador retriever and has championed the use of therapy dogs to cheer up patients throughout the hospital.

“As we have said from the beginning, training our physicians and staff to provide the highest quality care for our patients is our priority and responsibility,” Andrecovich said in her statement.

“We will continue to ensure that our emergency residents are able to safely and proficiently perform life-saving procedures.”

1 COMMENT

  1. The more I read about Morristown Medical Center the more I am appalled by their actions on several levels. Using live dogs…horrifying! Next, dangerously high lead levels had been found in their well water. And lastly, the Carol Simon Cancer Center was remiss in notifying hundreds of women regarding the finding of “dense breasts” after receiving mammograms there. This is a requirement by state law to inform women who were found to have this condition. This being a facility where people would expect to find the highest in professionalism, ethics, compassion and following the law. Very very disheartening and disappointing.

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