CHARLESTON, SC— An animal activist group is demanding that employees at a Lowcountry hospital be fired for their negligence, which appears to have resulted in a number of animal deaths.
Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN), a national watchdog organization, has internal reports from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) outlining the concerns and animal deaths.
Research mice were allowed to die of dehydration, roasted by a malfunctioning heating system, and one even awoke during operation due to a lack of anesthetic.
SAEN’s 2025 reports disclose that one study was so severely mishandled that “During the first procedure, the mouse started to recover from anesthesia early.”
A second MUSC investigation indicates “an instance of programmatic non-compliance” as well as “the death of three mice in the vivarium due to a lack of water.”
A third violation notice describes a catastrophic HVAC breakdown that “caused considerable morbidity and mortality. Animals from roughly 17 approved animal research protocols were impacted.
SAEN describes the abuse of these study animals as incomprehensible and reprehensible.
“The people of South Carolina should be concerned about this, not just because of the animal welfare issue and the lack of proper treatment,” said SAEN Executive Director Michael A. Budkie.
Budkie stated, “But the incompetence here casts serious doubt on the ability of the MUSC staff to carry out scientific projects.” If the staff at MUSC isn’t even skilled enough to properly anesthetize animals, make sure they have drink, and ensure that the ambient temperature isn’t lethal in and of itself, why should we assume they can do science?”
SAEN has filed a complaint with MUSC’s president, asking reforms to the research program and the dismissal of “all staff” associated with the abuse.
