An Argument For Animal Research
English 103 Paper #1 Animal Rights
Medicine has come a very long way since the days when men used to puncture
holes into the skull to release tension or evil spirits. In the last one
hundred years, for the sake of humanity, numerous vaccinations have been
developed, disease and disorders of all types have been prevented, surgical
techniques have been advanced, drugs have been developed to cure ailments and
the list continues endlessly.
The progress that has been achieved in knowledge
as well as safety in medical practice is correlated directly to animal research.It is one argument to control animal research so that needless death of animals
are not rendered, but it is absolutely different to argue that animals have
rights which supersede human subsistence. "For most of the past decade, the
animal-rights movement hasn't merely opposed animal research; it has
tried to destroy it." ( The Wall Street Journal, "Animals and Sickness", Page
378.) Animal rights advocates and activists generally have ethical objections
regarding treatment of animals during experimentation, but the use of animals in
research for the benefit of all people is and always will be justifiable.
Over 99 percent of all animal experiments are on rats and mice developed
expressly for laboratory use. "Less than 1 percent of experiments involve cats,
dogs, farm animals, nonhuman primates, frogs, fish, and birds." ( Encyclopedia
of Medicine, AMA, "Animal Experimentation", Page 110.) Animal rights advocates
try to sway public opinion by showing grotesque pictures of destroyed cats, dogs,
farm animals, dolphins, and monkeys which account for less than 1 percent of the
experiments, yet it seems 99 percent of their advertising and campaigning deal
with this one percent.
At least the American public realizes even those who
portray ethical righteousness can be wrong. For instance, " an American Medical
Association ( AMA ) poll found that 77 percent of adults think that using
animals in medical research is necessary." ( The Wall Street Journal, "Animals
and Sickness", Page 378.)
It is a curious thing to see animal welfare groups try to hinder animal
research by threatening researchers lives and destroying years of data collected.
Animal rights groups are promoting even more animal testing because the same
tests will have to be repeated to replace the lost data. In every major medical
research university there have been some form of nuisance to deter animal
testing whether it was a quiet riot or endangering the lives of researchers.
Animal rights groups must realize research is done out of necessity for
human welfare. Whenever possible alternatives to animal experiments are used.
"The development of modern research techniques, such as CAT scans, PET scans,
needle biopsies, and tissue cultures" ( Stephen Kaufman, M.D., Breakthroughs
Don't Require Torture, Page 380.) allow researchers to thoroughly exhaust their
options before testing on animals. In this age where fiscal conservatism is a
priority even then human lives are concerned, researchers are doing their part
to conserve. It takes a lot of time, money, and care to take care of animals
that are going to be subjects of tests.
"No responsible scientist would incur
the substantial expense and devote the considerable space required for housing
and caring of animals when other equally satisfactory models were available."
(Michael E. DeBackey, Holding Human Health Hostage, Page 361.)
Contributions resulting from animal research are too numerous to mention.All that can be said is without testing and researching on animals human lives
would have been lost, medical technology would have been tremendously delayed,
and future breakthroughs will be nearly impossible.
When we consider the
diseases that used to terrorize our society 100 or even 50 years ago, its a
blessing to realize animals are similar to humans in biology; That we can
confirm studies of medical and surgical methods before it is carried out on
people. Animal research saves lives.
