ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION FOR HUMAN BENEFITS

ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION FOR HUMAN BENEFITS

What is Animal Experimentation?

Animal Experimentation is the use of non-human animals in experiments that seek to control the variables that affect the behavior or biological system under study.

Ethical Issues concerning Animal Experimentation

Animal Experimentation is also known as:

• Animal testing
• Animal research
• In vivo testing

There are three sides to ethical issues concerning Animal Experimentation: Pro Animal Testing, Anti Animal Testing and the Middle Ground.

1. The Case For Animal Experimentation

Current Issue

3. The Middle Ground

• According to Hastings Center, animal experimentation has been a worldwide debate for more than two centuries.
• Most common debate is whether it is morally right for humans to use animals in experimental research for their benefits.
• Many ask themselves, is it right to allow animals to go through such pain and suffering for the benefit of humans?

Origin of Animal Experimentation

In this case, debaters firstly argue that humans are more important than animals. It is said that since animals lack cognitive capabilities of humans and also do not seem to possess full autonomy, they are not included in the moral community. Because animals are excluded from the moral community, humans obligation towards them are only limited and thus do not need to grant animals normal human rights. Thus, it becomes permissible to use animals for research purposes because they do not have the same rights as humans.

The middle ground includes debaters who feel uncomfortable with animal experimentation, but believe that in some circumstances the good arising out of the experimentation does outweigh harm to the animal. The middle ground suggests four principles:

• Preferential research use of less complex organisms whenever possible. For example, fruit flies, bacteria and/ or plants over mammals.
• To reduce animal use as far as possible in any given study, ensuring that studies conducted are according to the highest standards and that all information collected will be used.
• Provide high quality, disease-free environments for animals to help ensure that every animal counts.
• Ensure the best possible treatment of the animals used in a study. This includes, reducing pain and suffering by using anesthesia when appropriate. Also, anyone who handles the animals should be properly trained.

Greek physician Claudius Galen (AD 129-200) was the first to experiment on animals using monkeys and pigs. Through this experiment, Galen proved that urine was formed in the kidneys and found arteries carried blood. He was also known as the "father of vivi section".

2. The Case Against Animal Experimentation

REFERENCES

Those against animal testing centers their debate on the question of how much moral status animals have and what rights come with that status. Most agree that animals have at least some moral status, which is why it is wrong to abuse pets or hurt other animals. These debaters believe that non-human animals have exactly the same moral status as humans and are entitled to equal treatment. To shortly put, we should not have the right to kill animals, force them into our service, or otherwise treat them merely as means to further our own goals. Debaters also argue that animals cannot give consent to take part of experimentation and thus should not be forced to do so without any choice.

"About Animal Testing." Humane Society International. 21 Mar. 2016 <http://www.hsi.org/campaigns/end_animal_testing/qa/about.html?referrer=https://www.google.bs/>

"Animal Testing." 20 Mar. 2016 <http://animal-testing.procon.org/

Bentham, Jeremy. "Harm and Suffering." Animals in Research. 21 Mar. 2016 <http://www.neavs.org/research/harm-suffering>

<http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animal-testing-101/>

Liou, Stephanie. "Animal Research: The Ethics of Animal Experimentation." Huntington's Outreach Project For Education, At Stanford.6 Jul. 2010. 20 Mar. 2016 <http://web.stanford.edu/group/hopes/cgi-bin/hopes_test/animal-research/>.

Cons of Animal Experimentation

1. Animal testing is cruel and inhumane.

• Studies shows that animals used in experiments are commonly subjected to force feeding, forced inhalation, food and water deprivation, the infliction pain to study its effects and remedies, and so on.

2. Alternative testing methods currently exists that can replace the need for animals.

• Some alternatives includes in vitro or in glass testing such as studying cell cultures in a petri dish.
• Micro dosing which includes administering too small doses to cause adverse reactions.
• Artificial human skin.

Pros of Animal Experimentation

6. Animals can suffer like humans do, so it speciesism to experiment on them while we refrain from experimenting on humans.

• Discriminating against animals because they do not have the cognitive ability or moral judgement that humans do is no more justifiable than discriminating against human beings with severe mental impairments.

3. Animals are very different from human beings and therefore make poor test subjects.

• The anatomic, metabolic, and cellular differences between animals and people make animals poor models for human beings.

4. Alternatives to animal testing are too costly.

5. Some substances that are tested on animals, may never be used for anything useful.

1. Animal testing has contributed to many life-saving cures treatments.

• Has contributed to major advances in understanding and treating conditions such as tuberculosis, breast cancer, malaria, brain injury, and many others.

2. Animals are appropriate research subjects because they are similar to human beings in many ways.

• All mammals have the same set of organs that function in essentially the same way with the help of a blood stream and central nervous system.

3. Animals often make better research subjects than human beings because of their shorter life cycles.

• For example, laboratory mice only live for two to three years, so researchers can study the effects of treatments or genetic manipulation over a whole lifespan.

4. Animals do not have rights, therefore it is acceptable to experiment on them.

• Animals do not have the cognitive ability or moral judgement that humans do, in which they are not granted rights.

5. Religious traditions allow for human dominion over animals.

• Genesis 1:26 states, "And God said let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over the earth." Religious teachings allows for animal experimentation as long as there is no unnecessary pain inflicted and there is a real possibility of benefit to human beings.

What are Animal Experimentation used for?

Where may Animal Experimentation take place?

• Supplements

• Medical Schools
• Universities
• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
• Military defense establishments

• Household products

• Pesticides

• Industrial chemicals

Animals are used to test:

• Cosmetics

• Drugs

• Food additives

By:

Kyra Davis

Ashley Kemp