Right ladies, today we are going to tackle the very sticky and controversial subject of animal testing. Is it right that animals are kept in cages for the mere purpose of scientists to experiment on them? Does it matter? Is it a moral issue or a legal question? Why is it necessary? Here are 7 reasons for animal testing.
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1. No Viable Alternative
Whilst there are some desperate people out there who would probably consent to be tested upon, there really is absolutely no alternative to animals. Even with all the technological advances science has experienced, no computer can replicate the effect of drugs and chemical substances on the human body.
2. Cruelty
Of all the arguments against the reasons for animal testing, cruelty has to be the most quoted example. Some people say how do we know that an animal is suffering, it can’t express pain. They are however, using animals as substitute humans and if something is likely to cause discomfort to a human then surely by inference it’s the same for the animal. Just because a human can say "ouch, you’re hurting me" doesn’t make animal testing right. However, I refer you back to point 1.
3. Morality
There are no morally justifiable reasons for animal testing. It is a scientific necessity and it is scientifically sound.
4. Pain
Not all animal testing involves pain and suffering. A lot of laboratory animals are used for behavioural experiments and research.
5. Effectiveness
Practically every medical advance made in the twentieth century is in part or wholly due to animal testing. Seventy-one of the Nobel Prizes for Medicine in the last 103 years were awarded to scientists who used animals in their research. Our medicine cabinets, drugstores and hospital shelves would be very empty without animal testing and significant numbers of humans would have died without the cures and drugs that result from animal-based research.
6. Self Help
Another of the reasons for animal testing that protesters often ignore is that the scientific research doesn’t and hasn’t just benefitted humans. Farm animals, household pets, wild species and endangered species are all benefiting from the research.
7. Right to Life
The premise of every modern civilisation and culture is based on a person’s inalienable right to life. Every culture has laws to protect that right and also to engender equality amongst all human beings. It is also the belief of most humans that every individual has a right to a quality of life. It is therefore a question of why should a human be denied that right or that quality of life because of a disease or a defect. Humans have evolved with a sense of guardianship towards other humans that makes many of the reasons for animal testing sit on solid ground.
This is a highly emotive subject and not just a question of ethics. I consider myself to be a true animal lover. I support animal charities and I sponsor both a penguin and a dolphin but I am for animal testing. It doesn’t make me feel any less moral for taking this stance and it’s purely personal but ask me if I want them to use rabbits and rats to find a cure for cancer that would have stopped my darling brother from dying at the age of 43 and leaving behind his 5-year old son or to continue research into insulin that keeps my aunt alive then hell yes I am going to say carry on testing. I’m sorry if that upsets anyone but if you want to read a fantastically crafted paper on the ethics of animal testing follow this link
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