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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Homeland writer Gideon Raff angry at MoD over pig surgery | Homeland writer Gideon Raff angry at MoD over pig surgery |
| (25 days later) | |
| The creator of the hit TV series Homeland has written to the Ministry of Defence to protest at its use of live pigs to train army doctors in battlefield surgery. Gideon Raff said the MoD was not saving lives by "having military doctors sew up live animals whose bodies have been torn apart by bullets from high-powered rifles". In the open letter the Emmy award winning writer and director said he supports a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) campaign to have the practice stopped. | The creator of the hit TV series Homeland has written to the Ministry of Defence to protest at its use of live pigs to train army doctors in battlefield surgery. Gideon Raff said the MoD was not saving lives by "having military doctors sew up live animals whose bodies have been torn apart by bullets from high-powered rifles". In the open letter the Emmy award winning writer and director said he supports a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) campaign to have the practice stopped. |
| In November, the MoD defended sending military doctors to Denmark on a twice yearly course saying that the use of pigs who are first tranquillised before being shot and then operated on, provided, "invaluable experience" to surgical teams. Details of the training emerged last month when it was reported that 18 pigs were shot on the Definitive Surgical and Trauma Care course at Nato's Jaegerspris training area. After being fired upon in a manner intended to damage the pigs' organs but prevent imminent death, the animals were then treated as casualties, carried into ambulances and driven to a surgical theatre and operated on by a team of six medics, the Mail on Sunday reported. | In November, the MoD defended sending military doctors to Denmark on a twice yearly course saying that the use of pigs who are first tranquillised before being shot and then operated on, provided, "invaluable experience" to surgical teams. Details of the training emerged last month when it was reported that 18 pigs were shot on the Definitive Surgical and Trauma Care course at Nato's Jaegerspris training area. After being fired upon in a manner intended to damage the pigs' organs but prevent imminent death, the animals were then treated as casualties, carried into ambulances and driven to a surgical theatre and operated on by a team of six medics, the Mail on Sunday reported. |
| In his letter, Raff, a former Israeli paratrooper, said that the Israel Defence Forces had concluded that it was better to work with injury simulators rather than live animals. | In his letter, Raff, a former Israeli paratrooper, said that the Israel Defence Forces had concluded that it was better to work with injury simulators rather than live animals. |
| "Recent research by trauma surgeons with the IDF medical corps" he wrote, "found that 'military staff's confidence in performing lifesaving battlefield medical procedures increased when they were trained with sophisticated human simulators and after having experience with real patients – but not after completing crude animal laboratories'."Raff said that he had the "utmost concern for the health and security of the heroic service members – such as those portrayed on my shows Homeland and Prisoners of War – who risk their lives to protect our safety and freedom," but added: "the UK Ministry of Defence is not saving lives by having military doctors sew up live animals whose bodies have been torn apart by bullets from high-powered rifles. | "Recent research by trauma surgeons with the IDF medical corps" he wrote, "found that 'military staff's confidence in performing lifesaving battlefield medical procedures increased when they were trained with sophisticated human simulators and after having experience with real patients – but not after completing crude animal laboratories'."Raff said that he had the "utmost concern for the health and security of the heroic service members – such as those portrayed on my shows Homeland and Prisoners of War – who risk their lives to protect our safety and freedom," but added: "the UK Ministry of Defence is not saving lives by having military doctors sew up live animals whose bodies have been torn apart by bullets from high-powered rifles. |
| "I am troubled that this violence still goes on when more humane and effective ways of training medics and doctors are available, so I have joined Peta's campaign to end this cruel practice. | "I am troubled that this violence still goes on when more humane and effective ways of training medics and doctors are available, so I have joined Peta's campaign to end this cruel practice. |
| "Caring for the wellbeing of animals and preparing the troops serving our countries are not mutually exclusive," Raff wrote. "Sparing animals pain and death in training drills means that military personnel receive better medical training and ultimately better care if they are wounded on the battlefield." | "Caring for the wellbeing of animals and preparing the troops serving our countries are not mutually exclusive," Raff wrote. "Sparing animals pain and death in training drills means that military personnel receive better medical training and ultimately better care if they are wounded on the battlefield." |
| An MoD spokesperson said: "This training provides invaluable experience, giving our surgical teams the opportunity to work through the specific challenges posed by the injuries of modern armed conflict. | An MoD spokesperson said: "This training provides invaluable experience, giving our surgical teams the opportunity to work through the specific challenges posed by the injuries of modern armed conflict. |
| "This training has helped save lives on operations and by participating in the Danish exercises we minimise the overall number of animals used." | "This training has helped save lives on operations and by participating in the Danish exercises we minimise the overall number of animals used." |
| Mimi Bekhechi, Peta UK associate director said: "As a former paratrooper in the Israeli Defence Force, Raff knows that you don't need to shoot, stab or dismember animals to produce one of the most capable fighting forces in the world. | Mimi Bekhechi, Peta UK associate director said: "As a former paratrooper in the Israeli Defence Force, Raff knows that you don't need to shoot, stab or dismember animals to produce one of the most capable fighting forces in the world. |
| "The Ministry of Defence is behind the times using these archaic training methods instead of the superior non-animal methods that are available and used in place of animals by the militaries of 22 of the 28 Nato allies. | "The Ministry of Defence is behind the times using these archaic training methods instead of the superior non-animal methods that are available and used in place of animals by the militaries of 22 of the 28 Nato allies. |
| "[Their] decision to ship out members of the armed forces for deadly and cruel exercises in Denmark ... is impossible to justify medically, ethically or educationally." | "[Their] decision to ship out members of the armed forces for deadly and cruel exercises in Denmark ... is impossible to justify medically, ethically or educationally." |
| Homeland this year won the Golden Globe for best TV drama series and the Emmy award for outstanding drama series. | Homeland this year won the Golden Globe for best TV drama series and the Emmy award for outstanding drama series. |
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