Some supporters of animal testing argue that rights and justice apply only to humans. Animal research has brought a dramatic progress into medicine. With the help of animal research diseases like smallpox has been wiped out worldwide. Surgery on hearts, lungs, and other transplants are all possible because of animal research. Since the turn of the century, animal research has helped increase our life-expectancy by a huge margin. And now, animal research is leading good progress against AIDS and Alzheimer’s disease.
Working with animals in research is necessary. Scientists need to test medical treatments for effectiveness and test new drugs for safety before beginning human testing. Small animals, such as rats, are used to determine the side effects of new drugs. After animal tests have proven the safety of new drugs, patients asked to participate in further studies can be assured that they may fare better, and will not do worse than if they were given standard treatment or no treatment.
However, many people are concerned that animals are suffering unnecessarily and cruelly. They do not believe that every new drug needs to be tested on animals, especially with the huge database of knowledge and modern computer models. They also are worried that many animal tests are ineffective, pointing out that any drugs have had to be withdrawn from the market despite extensive testing. They feel that animal testing should not be used for products that are not essential such as cosmetics, shampoos, soaps, and cleaning products.
Furthermore, some campaigners would like to see certain tests replaced with more humane methods being used. We as humans need to make sure that the millions of animals who are used for testing new products are treated with little suffering. Although some animal testing cannot be avoided now, treating our fellow creatures as mercifully as possible will demonstrate our humanity. Many people argue that animal testing is cruel. In some cases this is true. However it would be much more cruel to let people die because there was not enough information about a new drug.
Opponents of animal research also say that information from animals does not apply to humans. They point out drugs which have been withdrawn because of side-effects in humans. While it is true that animal systems differ from human systems, this can back up an argument against animal testing because when something is tested on an animal and it causes harm but doesn’t kill it, yet its reaction seems to satisfy the scientists conducting on it, it doesn’t mean that a human using it will react the seem way and the drug could end up being with-drawn, causing unnecessary suffering and wasting time and resources.
In conclusion I am for animal testing as it is vital to human existence. This testing enables doctors to find treatments and cures for various diseases. People who think it is cruel, inhumane and unnecessary don’t give it a second thought and don’t understand the importance of it. I agree that its cruel in some cases, however scientist have seen the light and are now starting to use methods to reduce as much pain, distress and suffering as possible. To me some protesters do not make sense as they are only focusing on animals being used in how they call ‘horrific’ experiments, yet they turn a blind eye to butcheries and slaughter houses.
Animals will not be extinct as a result of this, as we have been hunting and killing animals to survive for a long period of time, why should this be any different as we are doing this to survive also. In fact animal testing has not only helped to discover cures for humans but also for other animals. Animals are essential to the survival of humans, whether it be for food or clothing. However, the unnecessary torture of animals through testing is non-essential for human survival. When it comes to the needless torture of animals that we claim to benefit, the animals lives need to be taken into consideration.
I am glad that scientists are now taking this onboard as I am sure they are getting irritated by animal rights campaigners and anti-testing protesters and they must feel better about themselves that it is changing gradually, through using better methods to ease the pain and suffering inflicted on animals as it will now greatly decrease. Personally I don’t think Animal Testing will last long because technology is now becoming more advance and good progress is being made by it. If it wasn’t for animals we wouldn’t exist, to me it has done more good than bad and countless lives have been saved due to it, in the future majority of animals will hopefully be replaced by technology, making it much more easier without any arguments, and the use of animals will be disapproved.
BY LUKE POLLIN