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Cruel and inhumane animal testing
Testing on animals debate
Cruel and inhumane animal testing
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After Sun reassures readers that the animals are completely safe and pain-free, she is able to reinforce how animal testing is beneficial through sound research. “The truth behind animal testing,” explains how specific discoveries such as insulin, blood transfusions, penicillin, so on and so forth have been unearthed because of animal testing. Today, many people can relate to these medical advances because they are so commonly used in hospitals and the medical field. Sun’s research even introduces multiple cases where animal testing was successful. One such case included Charles Chamberland who was able to find a vaccine for both cholera and anthrax through animal experimentation with little harm to the chickens he was testing.
Walton has her degree in veterinarian medicine after going through years and years of studying. She is very knowledgeable in her field and has much experience in laboratory research which adds greatly to her credibility in her article. Walton took the Veterinarian’s Oath with her veterinary class at Ohio State University, similar to the Hippocratic Oath physician’s take, and has taken to heart every word of it ever since that day. This shows how seriously Walton takes her job and the Veterinarian Oath’s pledge to look after the well-being of her patients. Walton realizes the seriousness of her decisions in animal research, she says, “This is a responsibility that is given to me by the numerous laws and regulations that govern the use of animals in research” (Walton, 2013).
“A Question of Ethics” by Jane Goodall and “Animal Research Saves Lives” by Heloisa Sabin presents two sides of the same coin in regards to Animal testing. Thereby, questioning the validity or necessity of animal research and testing today. In “A Question of Ethics” by Goodall she presents a scenery of the living conditions of the animals which are often isolated; posing the ultimate questions of, whether animal research is essential to medical research? Or How many tests are performed only to conform to laws and not out of scientific merit? The Suggestion was made that scientists should explore alternative options, such as testing on cell and tissue cultures.
Studies show that with all of the animal experimentation that has been done, most of them were inhumane, unreliable and had violated the Animal Welfare Act of 1966. This act ensures that animal care for research is a main priority. It is also required to have appropriate veterinary care, housing, feeding, handling, sanitation, ventilation, and sheltering. For some, animal experimentation is “supposed” to help human beings use certain products for their own benefit. What people do not realize is that these animals have rights and that their rights are being more than violated.
The laboratories in which rabbits and other animals are tested, the rabbits are held in small cages by themselves for weeks and months. There is no sunlight and the rabbits are not allowed to go outside. Rabbit 32 which is one of the 170,000 rabbits who will be killed this year due to animal testing, is locked up by himself waiting for people to do test on him. Some of the tests that Rabbit 32 has endured is being fed chemicals to see how it affects the rabbit. Another test that the scientist do is, a device to hold the rabbit down so it cannot move and the scientist drip chemicals into the eyes and onto the skin and wait to see how the rabbits react to the chemical.
There are over 100 million animals in US labs that are poisoned, crippled, burned, and abused every year (“11 Facts About”). “...the number of animals used in tests increased along with the number of tests themselves. the rapid increase in animal testing led to the development of numerous agencies…” (Murnaghan). Scientists should stop using animals when testing. First of all animals and humans are similar to humans.
Since 2000, around 16 million in government funds have gone to Wayne State University, or WSU, for animal research, specifically for experiments that use dogs to attempt to simulate or replicate cardiovascular conditions in humans. However, Wayne State’s methods of research have concerned Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, who aims to file a lawsuit against WSU. These dogs are used to simulate cardiovascular conditions. For example, “The dogs have the blood flow to their kidneys obstructed to create hypertension.”
In the medical science world, scientists have many ways to find cures for diseases or to figure out if one product is safe for the general public. Animal experimentation, the most common method, is a very inhumane way of testing out certain experiments. In some labs, scientists try and compensate the animals by giving them sort of treatment after experiments. Surprisingly some scientists fail to realize that common primates used in testing have the same sensitivity as humans, they might aswell be testing on humans. Jeory, the author of the article, quotes Dr. Goodall saying; “I can state categorically that they have a similar capacity for suffering, both mental and physical, and show similar emotions to many of ours”.
While the common belief is that animals are treated inhumanely, the animals “are actually treated quite well, in accordance with the strict regulations which govern animal care”(Shany). The facilities where animal testing is being done are monitored closely to assure the animals are being taken care of. A survey on the number of animals being used shows that “only 6% of animals being tested experience pain”(Shany). Without animal testing we would not have a vaccine for cholera, polio, meningitis or anthrax. Other medical advances found through animal testing are; penicillin, blood transfusions, insulin, and kidney transplants.
Animals in Research and Testing According to PETA, the animals who are in research and testing “shake and cower in fear whenever someone walks past their cages and their blood pressure spikes drastically. After enduring lives of pain, loneliness and terror, almost all of them will be killed,” (“Animal Testing 101”). Animal-testing is the use of non-human animals in research and development projects, especially for purposes of determining the safety of substances, such as foods, beauty products, and/or drugs. Although animal research plays a crucial role in experiments focused on disease treatments and preventions, it is cruel, inhumane, and should be stopped. This is an act that should be banned and prohibited in all states and countries
Jeff Flake, an United States Senator wrote for the Waste book, stated, “...Over $7.3 million of taxpayers ' money was wasted on studies involving animals in 2016.” Animal testing, also known as animal researching, animal research is the use of animals in experiments that help us find cures and test products to see if they are safe or not. Not testing animals will not help us get cured and test results. Animals testing should not be used because of cures, cruelty, and costs. It has been stated that animals should be used in researching and testing because they cure us.
Scientific innovation is based on trial and error. Experiment upon experiment is conducted in order to ensure that a certain hypothesis or treatment is valid or safe. However, there is a growing controversy behind the morality of certain types of testing; especially on animals. Scientists have been conducting experiments on animals for centuries, which has resulted in many medical advances that would have otherwise taken much longer to realize. Consequently though, a great multitude of people has begun to advocate for animal rights in this area.
The use of animals in labs started when a man named Harvey used different species of mammals to display blood circulation through the body. As time went on, science and medicine began to evolve, resulting in more animals being used for scientific testing. With this rise in animal testing came an uprise in citizens concerned about the wellbeing of these animals. In order to keep the public calm, the Cruelty to Animals Act was passed by parliament in 1873 installing guidelines for the use of animals in labs. This was the start of many Acts passed on behalf of animals used in the lab.
“The UK consumes over 300 times more fish each year than the total number of animals used in medical research each year” people believe that animal testing is cruel, but where would we be without it? Cancer, asthma, and the flu are all common diseases between mice and us humans. People say virtual reality is an option but computers don’t know everything. Imagine if surgeries were not perfected on animals, we would have a high chance of losing our loved ones. If we want to get our cherished family members and friends out of the hospital and feeling healthy again we must let our scientists experiment on animals to find new cures, and vaccines.
This heated debate questions ethical reasoning and the plausible justifications of such actions taken. In the following, comparison and contrast is drawn from “Conscientious Objection to Harmful Animal Use within Veterinary and Other Biomedical Education” written by Andrew Knight (2014), and “Public