“At least 115 million animals may be used in experiments worldwide each year.”
This quote shows just how many animals are suffering as a result of animal research around the world each year.
This happens as a result of animal testing, otherwise known as animal experimentation. This is a subject that divides public opinion. There are many advantages and disadvantages to this topic that are used to argue whether testing on animals should be legalised or banned completely.
Animal testing is used for a wide variety of experiments, from medicinal purposes to cosmetic trials. Testing on animals helps research into new drugs and treatments to improve healthcare and medicines. It has played a major role in the advancement of cancer and HIV treatment drugs as well as insulin, antibiotics and vaccines which have saved thousands of people’s lives. Animal experimentation enables scientists to carry out the necessary research to produce new medicines and drugs that greatly enhance human health. Without testing, this research would not have been possible.
Animal experimentation is important as it is part of trialling a drug to ensure its safety and effectiveness before it is trialled on humans. Without these tests, humans may suffer side effects or even new diseases/illnesses as a result.
Different countries have different views on the subject, which could be as a result of the different cultures found around the world, some of which hold different views of animals and their importance in society.
It can be argued that animal experimentation should be made illegal as it is cruel and unfair to the animals that suffer illnesses and disabilities as a result. It can also inevitably cause countless animal deaths either during or after testing. The injured animals will live the remainder of their lives in captivity, many having to live with the condition for the rest of their often short lives.
Another negative aspect of animal testing is that many of the substances being tested will never be approved for public consumption, perhaps because of the product being unfit to be sold or a new product may have been introduced that is better than the one being tested. This is a major argument against experimentation on animals as it appears that the animals have been injured or even died needlessly as there has been no direct benefit to humans, or anyone for that matter.
Animal testing can be viewed as being carried out for purely superficial reasons such as for cosmetics and household products. In an article from PETA’s website, it states that in the UK, as a result of the European Union’s law introduced in March 2013, it is illegal to sell cosmetic products that have been tested on animals, whether they were tested in Europe or not. This is in stark contrast with China, where testing products on animals is mandatory for the sale of products. Despite these laws having been relaxed in recent years, animal testing is still compulsory for many products, such as cosmetic products that have been imported into the country.
The article talks about how successful this law has been as it has forced companies to look at how they test their products, with many turning their backs on animal testing completely in order to be able to sell their items around the world.
The article then begins to move on to the ‘next logical step’ – the banning of animal testing for household products. They argue that there are plenty of other ‘safe’ ingredients that can be used in products instead of trialling new chemicals out in what is known as ‘toxicity (or poison) tests’, before describing in detail the harsh processes the animals are put through . Words such as ‘forcing’ and ‘injecting’ are used to emphasise PETA’s point of how cruel it is to make an animal suffer tremors, vomiting, organ failure or even death for the sake of a new cleaning product.
This article is biased as it comes from an organisation that is dedicated to animals wellbeing and therefore wants no tests on animals. It doesn’t say anything about testing medicines and new drugs on animals that will help save lives and improve quality of living for people, which some people may view as a good thing. It can also be argued however, that it is morally wrong to make an animal suffer for the sake of a human, especially if the product is being tested is not essential, for example on cosmetics or household cleaning items.
PETA uses this article to emphasise how many other countries, such as India have followed suit and also introduced the same law, highlighting how important they think it is.
Animal testing is a very expensive process as the animals to be used for these investigations have to be fed, housed and cared for as well as be treated with the often costly drugs which can all cost hundreds, or even thousands of pounds per animal.
This leads to another negative argument of animal testing, as some companies breed animals specifically for testing on. These companies then sell these animals to research labs who can purchase them, and therefore mean that these animals have been bred for the sole purpose of being test subjects which could be viewed as cruel and in humane as they will have no life other than in a laboratory.
However, it is not only the morality of animal experimentation that raises issues. The science behind the research could also raise concerns about the process. It can be seen as almost pointless as the reaction of a drug on an animal’s body is never going to be exactly he same as a reaction in a human. Not only is there the difference between animals and humans, there is also the fact that they animals aren’t being kept in their natural environment , which consequently causes stress and their bodies may not react the same to the drug as they would do under different circumstances. As a result, animal researching can be viewed as unreliable.
However, there is an argument that animal testing shouldn’t be banned as it helps research into new drugs and treatments to improve healthcare and medicines. It has played a major part in the advancement of cancer and HIV drugs, insulin, antibiotics, vaccines and many others. It is due to this testing that scientists have been able to produce new medicines and drugs to enhance human health. Without this testing, this would not have been possible. This is seen in the article by ‘understanding animal research’ which states that animal experimentation has played a vital part in almost all of the advancements made in medicine over the last ten years.
This source continues to talk about other advantages of animal experimentation, such as how animals are closely related to humans and suffer similar diseases, like asthma and some cancers. Whilst this article may be biased, as it is clearly promoting the practice of animal testing as can be seen from the name of the website, the facts stated appear to be backed up with evidence to support them. It is fairly recent, last updated in September 2014, however, as laws regarding animal research are constantly changing, the information may not be up to date any longer and perhaps could even be outdated, if there have been changes since the article was written. This would mean that the article isn’t as reliable or accurate as it could be.
Another argument that supports animal experimentation is that it is an important aspect to to help ensure the safety of drugs and other substances used by humans. Drugs in particular have many dangers attached to their use, but animal testing allows researchers to judge the safety of the drugs before starting trials on humans. This point is emphasised in the article published on the FDA’s (the US Food and Drug Association) website, which recognises that it is important to test on animals to ensure the safety of the drug if necessary before being labelled and given to the public as sometimes alternative methods aren’t suitable or reliable enough, and in these cases animal experimentation is essential. The FDA does state that any experimentation should be humane, and that there should be the maximum amount of scientific research gained from the tests being carried out. This research could then be used to benefit other scientists or researchers information which may lead to other developments in medicine.
However, the source does state that if at all possible, then animal testing should be avoided and alternative methods of testing products should be used if possible to establish the safety of the drug/product being tested.
There is also the possibility that other research methods may be found that don’t involve the use of animals, but would still provide us with lifesaving treatments and medicines. But, whilst these methods are being developed, should companies still be allowed to test on animals?
It also must be remembered that not all of the research is for medical reasons. Some tests are carried out on animals to test household products, cleaners, cosmetics and beauty products out on, which could be seen as ethically wrong as they are not saving lives of people, but are purely for ease and comfort, as well as vanity.
But could a law banning the use of animal experimentation for cosmetics, similarly to the law the UK has introduced, really work throughout the world? Issues could include countries not willing to introduce the rule, such as in China where animal testing is widely used on a range of products.
Banning animal testing completely may also compromise the safety of new products as the side effects or reactions on living things would be unknown and so therefore people’s safety would be put at risk.
Overall, there are many arguments as to whether animal testing should be made illegal or not. People have different views on the subject and therefore, we may struggle to reach a unanimous decision. It is difficult to determine whether the benefits outweigh the negatives that are associated with the research.
It must be taken into account that these tests have helped save millions of lives, and will surely continue to in the future. However, as the society we live in becomes fairer and more equal, animal rights may become a topic that also changes and animals will no longer be used in experiments for new products or drugs, especially for items such as makeup or beauty products which can be viewed as unnecessary and simply a luxury that animals should not have to suffer for, so that humans can gain a small amount of comfort from such items that can really be classed as unnecessary.
Although, again, it can be argued that some of the reasons for animal experimentation is necessary and has to continue to help with development and progression.
Therefore, animal research is a subject which will always spark debates and divide opinion worldwide.
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