Refused to dissect lamb – ported from the medical program

Published 29 April 2024 at 12.51

Domestic. Vegan Jasper Forfang Righard, 23, is not allowed to continue his medical education at Lund University. The reason is that he refused to dissect a lamb.

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– I know that many medicines are researched using animal experiments but I want to work for a future with more humane methods, says Jasper Forfang Righard to SVT Nyheter Skåne.

In Lund, dissection of animals is included in the medical education, which is not the case in all medical education in the country.

In its appeal to the university against the decision to suspend him from the education, Jasper Forfang Righard writes:

“My ethical position as a vegan involves avoiding unnecessary suffering for animals and not further normalizing the unethical approach we have to others animals.”

The appeals board for the university, however, supports the course manager's decision.

– We have chosen to set up the education in Lund in this way and there are no opportunities for individual adjustments. But it's clear that it's sad that a student can't continue, says Thomas Hellmark, vice dean and person in charge of the medical education in Lund, to SVT.

Jasper Forfang Righard tells SVT that he didn't think it would be a problem to be a vegan and become a doctor.

– Rather that the empathic side of me would be an important quality for the medical profession, says the 23-year-old.

He now works at night instead at psychiatry in Lund and as a volunteer for an animal rights organization, and plans to apply to another medical education where dissection of animals is not included.