Animal testing has been going on for far too long. Whether it is to test a new cosmetic or develop another medication, scientists have used animals as a way of testing out new drugs and products before they are used on humans. Each year animals are blinded, force-fed, genetically altered, injured and more. They are kept in tiny, uncomfortable cages just to test something new. These innocent animals are hurt for science and the results might not even hold true for humans. While some may think that animals are not as developed as humans and use that argument to justify these experiments; Jeremy Bentham, a British philosopher, once said, “The question is not, ‘Can they reason?’ nor, ‘Can they talk?’ but rather, ‘can they suffer?’” Animals have been through too much suffering to sometimes benefit the lives of humans. Their deaths should not be considered acceptable simply because an occasional experiments has led to medical advancements. There are other options that we need to investigate. Testing on animals is unethical and should not be practiced under any circumstances. Some argue that animal testing has produced some benefits in the medical field. There have been numerous drugs proven though animal testing that have improved the lives of humans all over the world. From treatments for cancer to antibiotics for infection, without animal research, many of the medicines we use today would not exist. During animals testing, scientists are given a living laboratory in which to test their substance. For example, monkeys are often used in experiments because their bodies are so closely related to those of humans. Given that some believe we derived from monkeys, they are an obvious choice for testing. When monkeys are used to test a new pain medication, scientists observe the actions of the monkey before and after they have received the medication. Scientists cannot only see if the pain medication is working, but see if there are any side effects experienced by the monkey as well. From the responses, scientists are able to determine whether or not the medication would be suitable for a human being. By testing the medicine or product on an animal first, we ultimately save numerous human lives. This is not to say that animal’s lives are disregarded. Animal testing has certain rules to follow and regulations that protect the animal. The Animal Welfare Act became law in 1966 to regulate the treatment of animals in all conditions (“Animal Welfare Act”). Several groups and professionals such as the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service enforce the act so that animals are protected during these experiments. Still, the benefits of animals testing do not outweigh the horrible tests being done on animals. The benefits of animal testing are often overstated and not well understood. PETA, a well-known organization for animal rights, corrects the misperception, “It’s bad science. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that 92 out of every 100 drugs that pass animal tests fail in humans” (PETA). These appalling tests being done on innocent animals are not even producing accurate conclusions. In 1993 the FDA approved a drug called Propulsid (Pippin, and Sullivan). It was used to treat gastric reflex in children. After numerous tests on different animals such as mice and rabbits with no problems, the drug was released to the public (Pippin, and Sullivan). By 1995 people started noticing heart rhythm disturbances associated with the new drug. Many children and babies under one year of age were dying of heart disruptions (Pippin, and Sullivan). After 300 deaths, the drug was withdrawn from the medical market in 2000 (Pippin, and Sullivan). Vioxx is another drug that passed animals testing but was found lethal to humans. Vioxx was discovered as a pain medication for arthritis. It was tested on African green monkeys, mice, and rats and there were no problems found (Gartner). However, when introduced to humans, the drug was found to
different ways. Issues related to animal experimentation are commonly debated in society, since each year lots of animals are hurt and killed in laboratories. Testing on animals is a very controversial topic. Some scientists see the benefits of testing on animals, but there are also some who see that testing chemicals on animals is not necessary since there are alternative methods. Many reasons can be explained behind the fact that animals are constantly used for testing. Isn’t cruel to harm helpless…
Using animals in research and to test the safety of products has been a topic of heated debate for decades. According to data collected by F. Barbara Orlans for her book, In the Name of Science: Issues in Responsible Animal Experimentation, sixty percent of all animals used in testing are used in biomedical research and product-safety testing (62). People have different feelings for animals; many look upon animals as companions while others view animals as a means for advancing medical techniques…
How many of you have pets at home? Now, how would you feel if your pet was kept in a small cage without interaction with other animals? What if researchers shaved your pets fur off and then doused them with harsh chemicals to see if their skin will blister and burn? Or if you had a rabbit and chemicals were poured into his eyes to test the irritancy of the chemical? (Rhetorical Question). The chemicals burn like fire. (Simile). Remember that your rabbit does not have tear ducts and cannot wash the…
methods using animals. Many major discoveries have changed the medical field including antibiotics, insulin, vaccines for polio and cervical cancer; but there has been controversy on how these discoveries have been made. Many people believe that it is essential to use animals to research different drugs or chemicals to find the cause or cure to a disease, to make sure that the drug or cure is safe to use before it is tested on humans, and many people do not want to risk their lives testing an unknown…
Alvarez English 1A 09/28/2012 Animal Testing Right or Wrong? The number of animals killed each year in the United States, is from 17 million to 70 million animals. Even though, the Animal Welfare Act states laboratories must report the number of animals used in experiments; mice, birds, and rats are not included in this number over all. According to the Society of Animals, these animals are used in 80 to 90 percent of all animal testing. Animal testing may not directly affect people…
The number of animals killed each year in the United States alone varies between 17 and 70 million. The Animal Welfare Act (ACA) states that laboratories must report the number of animals used in experiments; yet mice, birds, and rats are not included in this figure. These animals are used in 80 to 90 percent of all animal testing. Because of this, it is impossible to calculate the exact number of animals used in such experiments (PETA, 5). Animal testing might not directly affect ordinary people…
Animal Testing Every year, 20 million animals are mutilated, blinded, scalded, force fed chemicals, genetically manipulated, hurt and killed for research and science. Three fourths of these animals die for medical purposes and the rest are killed for tests on various products. Mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, and other animals are used for these cruel tests. Animal testing first started in the 1800’s for creating vaccines for children. The animals they tested on were monkeys, mice,…
Animal Testing “According to the US-based Foundation for Biomedical Research, 'animal research has played a vital role in virtually every major medical advance of the last century - for both human and veterinary health.” (Kristina Cook 2006). There are so many drugs have been made possible through the research done on animals. Animal testing made great benefits on human life and medical research, not only on the length of our lives but also the quality of our lives. This essay will provide some examples…
Ethical Dilemma One ethical dilemma retained my attention. We saw briefly during class a subject regarding animal testing for medical purposes. Should be allowed to test medical purposes on animal rather than human being? From Wikipedia, in the United Kingdom there are approximately 45-70 millions cats and 40 millions dogs. It is also estimated that 3,000 cats and dogs are born every day and 4,000 rats every hour (derelictlondon.com). In other words, I would rather say that if one dies spontaneously…
2014 English 1301 Dr. Lopez Animal Testing “Every day in countries around the world, animals are fighting for their lives, these are mutilated and confined to tiny cages so that we can kill them in outdated product tests for cosmetics, personal-care products, and household-cleaning products. These animals are burned, blinded, poisoned, electrocuted, strangled, and tested on all in the name of “science”’ stated by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (1). Animals are abused and mistreated on…