The broad area of scientific study taken is search of ways to prevent diseases which result in illness and/or death in people and animals. Without biomedical research, many illnesses and diseases that have been wiped out would still cause issues for humanity today. Humans and animals hold special purpose in biomedical research, as, as subjects, they can help to determine cause, symptoms and treatment for the disease. However this may come at the risk of exposing said target to illness or disease, which may end in death.
This essay will discuss the history of both animals and humans as subjects of biomedical research. It will also discuss how different ethical philosophies view the use of animals and humans as test subjects. It will aim to analyse how legislation in regards to biomedical research has evolved, analysing the existing arrangements and predict how the future of biomedical research will be shaped.
Animals have been used as test subjects for biomedical research for over x years. The use of animal subjects has largely been largely successful in advancing scientific progress in the area of biomedical research. With the greatest effects being felt in the early-mid 20th century, with certain illnesses even being wiped out from work done in relation to animal testing. Contemporary uses for animal subjects include
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In Australia there is no national act governing the rights of animals; instead there are separate state legislations such as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (NSW) and Animal Research Act 1985 (NSW). In the USA the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 was introduced to help regulate the use of animals as subjects in biomedical research. The legislation in place today minimise the harm on test subjects, and place safeguards, such as codes of conduct and ethical committees to ensure all research is done as ethically as