Ethical Issues With Animal Testing

What would you do if you saw someone slowly torching an animal to death. The background of animal testing is defined as some say it is cruel and some say it is necessary. In recent discussions of animal being used as test subjects. On one hand, some argue that it is cruel and inhuman. On the other hand, some say the test could not be performed without the animals. My own view is, I strongly am against animals being used as test subjects. Some view the test that are performed on the animals as innocent and harmless, it is clear that the test are cruel because the test torture the animals, and some test are inhuman.

It is no secret that millions of animals a year are used for medical experimentation. One study “found the number of animals tested rose from 1,566,994 in 1997 to 2,705,772 in 2012” (Casey). It is my belief that researchers use virtue theory to defend their experimentations. While animal activists approach experimentation through the ethics of care. I am against animal experimentation, but I will also provide insight into why people believe it is ethically just.

As of 2015, 200 to 225 million animals are said to used in laboratory research for the biomedical industry annually worldwide. Typically defended by arguments of reliability and human health benefits, recently the question of ethics and values placed on animal testing have caused it to become a relevant and pressing topic that has been more widely discussed and debated. First off, the laboratory conditions that are instigated upon millions of animal models for the sake of medical research has been said to be unethical and cruel. Additionally, it has been debated that the results of animal experimentation are unreliable across a wide range of areas. Lastly, animal testing not only leads away from the direction of resources from more effective testing methods but also prolongs the duration of time humans may need to wait for an effective cure. Therefore, the potential benefits of animal experimentation are greatly outweighed by the risks and collective harm of humans and animals which is why resources should be directed towards more human-based testing procedures.

Imagine a life locked away in a cage with no form of control on your existence. It’s cold, dark, and you are scared. You don’t have a choice of what you eat, where you live, or how you are treated. You are unsure if it is day or night or what will happen to you next. You are locked away in a prison cell and you committed no crime. This is the life of a laboratory animal. Animal testing is the use of animals for scientific research purposes and experiments. It can be used for the findings of cures and medicines to testing new drugs, to understanding the behavioral psychology of the animals themselves. “Around fifty to one hundred million vertebrate animals, ranging from fish to primates, are used in experiments each year” (Lloyd). There are

“Lots of people talk to animals…Not very many listen, though…That’s the problem”(Ben Hoffman). The controversy of animal testing is phenomenal; it always has been. I remember dissecting animals throughout my years of school in the "name of science". It was only until recently that I started questioning the government 's methods to teach us. We dissected a dog shark in my oceanography class last year. There had to been at least 80 dead sharks in about four different buckets; that was when it crossed the line. I understood a lamb eye or something, but breeding sharks in captivity just so they can be killed? Animal testing is wrong in every way to me.

A rabbit lives its life trapped in a laboratory. It doesn’t get fresh air and has different products tested on it every day. The product can make the rabbit go blind or cause its skin to burn, but there is nothing the rabbit can do about it. This is what happens to animals every day from cosmetic companies who test their products on animals. According to Cruelty Free Kitty (2017), over 30 cosmetic companies continue to use animal testing to improve their products. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2017), “the agency has consistently advised cosmetic manufactures to employ whatever testing is appropriate and effective for substantiating the safety of their products.” This means that if the company believes animal testing is the best option for their product they are allowed to do it. Testing cosmetics on animals is cruel and inhumane, and people should avoid using products that test on animals.

Animal experimentation has been a commonly debated subject for many years, is it cruelty or science? Millions of animals die each year from animal testing. This is because of harsh ways animals are treated like by their experimenters. Animals should be free of the cruelty scientists expose them to. They have just as much sentient as humans do. Millions of animals a year are subject to being imprisoned and having terrible procedures done.

Cohen argues that humans may morally use animals for biomedical research, the study of biological processes and disease, because animals lack rights. He defines rights as moral claims that one human can hold against another, which are bound in both law as well as in comprehension of right and wrong. As animals lack self-conscious placement in a higher ethical order with the ability to weigh needs of self against the needs of others, they therefore lack the ability to have rights. (Cohen 1986: p. 215) To support the morality of animal research, I will show how it has led to many successful treatments of disease in humans, due to the common physiology that we share with other animals. Furthermore, I will argue that the pain caused on research

The aim of this presentation is to highlight why animals research exists in the field of psychobiology and psychology. Firstly, an explanation of the benefits of conducting animal research, with research examples targeted at the central nervous system (CNS). Then, the focus is to highlight the ethical issues surrounding animal research, such as cruelty to animals and their rights. Thirdly we will be looking at the extent to which animal research has increased our understanding of human psychology. This is then followed by a brief summary of the main points covered in the presentation.

Animal rights argue that researches on animal is an unethical or a cruel way of obtaining cures for humans. During examination more than 10 billion animals die due to the wrong administration of injections. Many animals are subjected to forced inhalation, feeding, dehydration and burns. During assessment animals are put through severe sufferings such as electric shocks, brain damage, blinding, withholding of food and water, immobilization of entire body and other painful procedures. Many of the animals die before or sometimes after the experiment. Some of the lab experiments which cause extreme discomfort and sufferings are anesthetization, intubations and euthanasia, when performed improperly. Unfortunately, the lack of experience and

From the early beginnings of civilizations, humans have had a symbiont relationship with animals. Animals have allowed humans to make great progression through history, from early farming methods, to transportation, even scientific research. Recently the ethics of the use of animals in scientific research and clinical testing have been a subject of a controversial debate. Animals have been used in scientific research as early as 500 BC (Miziara et al. 2012). One of the most impactful innovations for quality of life since the end of the middle ages has been medicine, drastically improving life spans and reducing child deaths. One of the key sources of medicinal research during this time and to this day are animal models.

In my opinion, I feel like testing on animals are completely fine as long as they follow the guidelines set so the animals won’t be harmed, and under the condition that the experiment is something we cannot test on people, like the polio vaccine was tested on animals, which proved to be successful. Although, animal testing can be seen as cruel there are many guidelines set to prevent the animals from suffering. For example, The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that they will not fund a research unless they have been cleared by an animal-research committee. Not to mention the U.S. Congress set up safeguards for small animals to be treated the same as the larger animals. I believe the small animals should be tested on more than the

I. Introduction) Animal experimentation has immensely influenced new discoveries of human advantages. Scientific research on animals have been the main source in understanding and developing the advancement of many medical diseases. Although a few animals are actually used in this research, Animals themselves benefit from the results of testing, and the Animal Welfare Act that was signed into law in 1996. This law is the is the only federal law in the United States that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibitions, transport, and by dealers. The research of animals is nothing new, in fact, they go back to as early as 500 B.C ( procon.org) it is even mentioned in the Bible ( Genesis 1:26 ) that Jewish, Christian, and Muslim teachings are allowed with animal experimentation as long as unnecessary pain is inflicted and, there is some sort of advantage or benefit humans receive. Although it has in fact been around for ages, it still strikes an immense amount of controversy within the U.S government. Although it is beneficial for the progression of systematic human advances, Many individuals believe it is considered inhumane and unethical because it puts the lives of millions, if not billions of animals at risk by violating their basic rights.

Animal testing has been a major issue ever since it began. Many people over time began to realize that it is immoral and that animals deserve rights just as much as humans do. Although many people have realized that animal testing is wrong, there is still an abundance of others who believe that there is nothing wrong with animal testing. Imagine if someone had a pet that they love and someone performed harmful, painful, and fear inducing experiments on them, would the owner think it is okay? No. Then why do people think it is okay to conduct tests on other animals that will feel all the same emotions as someone's beloved pet? Animal testing is wrong and more efforts need to be put into place to stop this cruel act because it is not always accurate, there are alternatives to the practice, and it is not ethical.

In today’s society, not many people realize that the products used in a person’s daily routine are tested on innocent animals. In some cases, people will go there entire life not acknowledging the fact the products, especially beauty items, they use underwent many trials of examination. This process is thoroughly done to be safe for humans, which can result in the deaths of several thousands of animals. Common makeup brands, such as Maybelline, Avon, and Estée Lauder, experiment on animals and do not inform users about this process. This creates numerous debacles in reference to people who are against any form of animal cruelty. Beauty manufacturers should not be allowed to sell products whose ingredients are tested on living things.