CHARLESTON, SC () — An animal rights organization is demanding the dismissal of Lowcountry hospital staff following alleged negligence that reportedly resulted in multiple animal fatalities.

Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN), a prominent national watchdog, has acquired internal documentation from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), highlighting the troubling incidents and consequent animal deaths.

The records indicate that research mice suffered deaths from dehydration, overheating due to a malfunctioning heating system, and in one case, a mouse regained consciousness during surgery due to insufficient anesthesia.

The 2025 documents accessed by SAEN describe a particularly mismanaged project where “the mouse began to awaken prematurely from anesthesia during the initial procedure.”

Another report from MUSC outlines “a case of systemic non-compliance” that resulted in “the deaths of three mice in the vivarium from lack of water.”

A third violation report discloses a serious HVAC malfunction “resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Animals on approximately 17 approved animal research protocols were affected.”

SAEN says the abuse of these research animals is inconceivable and unacceptable.

“As far as the people of South Carolina, they should be concerned about this not just because of the humane issue of the animals and the lack of proper treatment,” said SAEN Executive Director Michael A. Budkie.

Budkie said, “But the incompetence here generates serious doubt as to the ability of the staff at MUSC to perform scientific projects. If the staff at MUSC is not even competent to anesthetized animals correctly, to make sure they have water, to make sure the ambient temperature is not in and of itself fatal, then why should we believe, they can do science?”

SAEN has sent a complaint to MUSC’s president requesting changes in the research program and requesting the firings of “all staff” connected to the abuse.

The full complaint can be found below:

MUSC has not responded to that request.