As part of the health products regulation module we must discuss an ethical issue. In this essay I will discuss the issue of testing on animals and deliberate whether it is right or wrong. The concept of ethics will be talked about and what people really think of it. Does ethics come into everyday life? What would you do if nobody was looking? Would you do it if you knew you would get away with it?
The definition of ethics: ‘moral principles that governs a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity’. Reference (Oxforddictionaries.com, 2014).
Introduction:
Laboratory testing is carried out every day throughout the world including Ireland. Testing is carried out in all areas including food, medical, cosmetics the list is endless. But
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Reference (Understandinganimalresearch.org.uk, 2014)
• 71 of the noble prizes won in the last 100 years have been awarded to scientists who have used animals in their research for medicine. Reference (Pro-test.org.uk, 2014)
There’s no denying that there are pros and cons to using animals for testing which you can see above, and that’s only scratching the surface. Below is a case study which shows what happens when products are not tested before being put out on the market. If these products where tested on animals beforehand would we have saved all these lives? Could this have been avoided? Would you sacrifice a few animals to save hundreds of human lives?
Case study:
1930s USA there was a public outcry after several tragic incidents occurred; involving untreated products. 12 women who used the product ‘lash lure’ (mascara) caused the consumers to go blind. It was made from a chemical that could burn the skin. One woman had such severe burns she died from infection following the incident. Another such example; 100 people died after consuming the cough syrup ‘Elixir Sulfanilamide.’ The medicine that was dissolved in the syrup was