Hospital Rams Tubes Down Cats' Windpipes  Nearly every medical teaching facility uses human-patient simulators for Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) courses. But St. Louis Children’s Hospital won't budge. They still push hard tubes down the windpipes of cats and ferrets before killing the animals. These intubation exercises do not require animals. PALS own sponsor, the American Heart Association, has publicly stated that it “ does not require or endorse live animal use” and to a certain extent, has disassociated itself from PALS programs that use animals.

Animal experimenters think that as long as they comply with basic care requirements (many don't) under the Animal Welfare Act — what's the big deal? The big deal is this: It is simply unnecessary to reduce any animal's life to isolation, confinement, invasive procedures and death.

Tell St. Louis Children’s Hospital that simulators are relevant to human anatomy and facilitate student feedback.