The Veterinary Schools Council represents seven UK and two European schools of veterinary education.
These schools are responsible for the training of the next generation of veterinary surgeons to ensure the health and welfare of companion, farm and other animals. The use of post-mortem material continues to be an essential part of this training. Use of such material includes the performance of autopsies on animals that have died or been euthanised, examination of material from abattoirs, and anatomical training using the bodies of companion animals that have died or been euthanised.
We obtain all these materials ethically and specifically ensure that animals are not euthanised solely for such training purposes.
We continue to review and develop new ways to train our veterinary surgeons and consider that the use of post-mortem material remains essential for the training of veterinary surgeons.
