Rethinking Animal Consciousness Research to Prioritize Well-Being.
Cambridge quarterly of healthcare ethics : CQ : the international journal of healthcare ethics committees April 1, 2025 Liv Baker, Barbara J King, William S Lynn
A critique of the NY Declaration on Animal Consciousness argues that the declaration fails to condemn ongoing captivity and invasive research aimed at identifying markers of consciousness in animals. Such research, the authors contend, perpetuates animal suffering by tolerating harmful practices. They propose replacing this approach with a nonanthropocentric ethical framework grounded in the Belmont Report's principle of beneficence. This framework advocates for noninvasive research methods conducted in natural habitats, prioritizing animal well-being and recognizing the intrinsic value of all conscious beings.