Many of you may not be aware of this, but several recent
court decisions may have a large impact on the way that psychologists and biomedical researchers conduct
animal research in the future. The State of New York
Supreme Court recently ruled that “Tommy the Chimpanzee” should not be granted legal “personhood”
status (click HERE for a story from the Washington Post). However, late last year an Argentinian court
ruled in favor of an orangutan in a habeas
corpus case (click HERE to read that story from the Washington Post). What the ramifications of these decisions are for animals in
zoos, circuses, and those used in biomedical and behavioral research will
surely be realized in the near future.
