Dear PCRM supporter,

Tomorrow, Baystate Medical Center in Massachusetts is scheduled to begin a trauma training course in which live pigs will have tubes and needles inserted into their chest cavities and hearts. Please tell Baystate that this needs to stop.

Please call or send an e-mail to Baystate Medical Center president and CEO Mark Tolosky and Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course director Patrick Lee, M.D., F.A.C.S. Ask Mr. Tolosky and Dr. Lee to replace the use of pigs in all ATLS courses with validated nonanimal training methods. Being polite is the most effective way to help these animals and improve medical education. Send an automatic e-mail to both men.

Today, PCRM filed a federal animal welfare complaint on Baystate, alleging that the medical center is violating the Animal Welfare Act because it continues to use animals when alternatives exist that would alleviate pain and suffering.

While participants in the ATLS program at Baystate still use live pigs, 95 percent of U.S. ATLS programs use only human-based medical simulators like the TraumaMan System. Baystate owns the TraumaMan System and could immediately replace the use of pigs.

If you have any questions, please contact me at rmerkley@pcrm.org. Thanks so much for your help!

Best regards,
 
Ryan Merkley
Manager of Humane Education Programs

P.S. Please forward this e-mail to your family and friends.