A national physician's group is increasing the public pressure on Sanford Health to stop using animals in its trauma training program. Protests outside the Sanford USD Medical Center Thursday, call on the health care organization to end its practice using pigs in a North Dakota State University trauma class.
The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine held its first protest after beginning a billboard campaign around Sioux Falls in March.
North Dakota State University is the only college to use pigs in its advanced trauma life support courses. Other human based teachings are accredited by the American College of Surgeons.
The committee has offered to pay for the university's expense to rent a human-like simulator, but Sanford has not accepted.
Dr. John Pippin, the Director of Academic Affairs with the committee, said he hopes Thursday's protest brings the issue to the public's attention.
There are 385 advanced trauma life support programs in the country, but Sanford Health is the only one to use pigs for procedures. The others use human simulators or other technology.
"Frankly, it's perplexing to us, all they have to do is look around and see that they're the ones that don't get it," Pippin said.
The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine has been trying to get Sanford to stop its use of animals for more than a decade.
In a written statement, Sanford Health defended the practice and said it adheres to the highest level of animal care in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act.
