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.
Virtue theory is more of a selfish ethics since one’s growth and development are seen as an end in itself and doesn’t consider how one’s actions affect others. Thus, in relation to animal ethics and experimentation, animals shouldn’t be considered since they cannot discern between what
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It is always said that animals are used for experimentation because genetically they are closest to human beings but if they are this closely related, why are we abusing and torturing them? This is affected ignorance. In her article, “Affected Ignorance and Animal Suffering” Nancy Williams talks about different forms of affected ignorance. One form stood out more than others, “when people refuse to acknowledge the connection between their actions and the consequent suffering of their victims.” The experiments performed on animals are said to be beneficial to those animals, but studies have shown that animal testing could mislead researchers into ignoring cures and treatments. There are chemicals beneficial to human beings but harmful or ineffective to animals, such as aspirin (Akhtar). There are some medicines that have been tested on animals that provide benefits to these animals but when used in human testing, the results were less than great. For example, the drug thalidomide, which was a sleeping pill used in the 1950s, caused severe birth defects in ten thousand newborns. However, when the drug was tested on pregnant animals such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, cats, and hamsters there was no birth defects unless given at an extremely high dosage (Greek). The use of animals in experiments are unreliable when it comes to testing …show more content…
If the argument is that animals are being used for testing medicines because they are similar to human beings, shouldn’t the logic follow that because they are so similar to human beings and in need, we should care for them as well. Although, this is generally not the case. Researchers justify their experiments using the Animal Welfare Act or AWA saying that because of this act there are laws in place to stop the mistreatment of animals. Unfortunately, for some animals used in experimentation such as rats, mice, fish, and birds which make up roughly ninety-five percent of all animals used, they are not protected under this act. According to the Animal Welfare Act in 2016 they covered 820,812 animals (APHIS), which means there were about twenty-five million animals that were not covered by the AWA. Because of this lack of coverage, these animals are more likely to be abused and mistreated since they lack basic protection. Due to the new guidelines in the UK researchers like Thomas Genarelli won’t be able to continue their abuse.
Animal experimentations, like many things, cost money. Researchers need large budgets for everything including the animals, however since they are desperate to get results and keep their grants they underestimate the amount of animals needed for testing which results in the tests being inconclusive and wasting the lives of the animals used in that
Although some people believe animal testing is beneficial to humans, animals go through torture during the testing progress, and it is unethical. Marjie Lundstrom, a UC Davis researcher explains, “An incident at the University of California, three baby mice were found sealed alive in a plastic baggie and left unattended” (Animaltesting.com). This quote proves animals suffer during the testing progresses, and humans think the pain of the animals is okay. To clarify these baby mice were being abused and they were in an unethical situation. According to Human Society International, an undercover investigation site states, “animals used in experiments are commonly subjected to force feeding, forced inhalation, food and water deprivation, prolonged periods of physical restraint, the infliction of burns and other
You know those medicines that you can get at the Drug Store? Don’t you think that is the greatest medicine for headaches or allergy relief? Well, it was most likely tested on an animal and it could have killed them. Over 100 million animals are injured in a wide variety of ways in the U.S. alone . Some animals spend their entire lives in captivity constantly getting tortured or abused. Also, it has been proven that only 50% of the time animal testing also works on humans, so while we tested on animals and it worked for animals, you might as well flip a coin as to whether it will benefit people.
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.
Most of the animals use in research are not protected by the Animal Welfare Act. Those animals like birds and mice are not protected because for the federal law, these animals are not in the animal category. The worst part of this is that those animals that are not protected are the ones most often used for testing. This animals are tortured in many ways and law does not do anything to protect them. In fact, even the animals that are protected by the AWA are harmed. They are exposed to a lot of harmful procedures. It have been cases were the same animals harm their selves due to all the stress they have to pass by. Imagine how much stress one need to be to be able to cause pain to itself.
For many years, the field of science has used animals in medical experiments worldwide, because of this innocent animals are being killed everyday. They are being tested with new drugs, new treatments, and by many makeup companies. Connecticut recently celebrated the passage of the “Beagle Freedom Law”, a law that requires laboratories to work with charities and rescue groups to find homes for research cats and dogs. Animals are being tested so humans do not have to be but animal tests do not reliably predict results in human beings, although animals are the closest thing to humans. Most experiments involving animals are flawed, wasting the lives of innocent animal subjects. Over 100 million animals suffer a year from testing. Testing animals is a lot more expensive than alternative methods and it is wasting government research dollars. Animal testing is not only a bad idea, but it is also inhuman and it should not be tolerated. The FDA should stop allowing animal testing. An animal does not give out the same results on a test than a human would.
Animals endure so much pain and suffering when being tested on. In some cases, animal testing can be deadly or lead to serious side effects that will forever stick with the animal that was tested on. Animals hardly ever, to never benefit from testing. In research and testing, animals are subjected to experiments that can include everything from testing new drugs to infecting with diseases, poisoning for toxicity testing, burning skin, causing brain damage, implanting electrodes into the brain, maiming, blinding, and other painful and invasive procedures (NEAVS). It can include protocols that cause severe suffering. Also, can’t forget about the restricted living conditions where animals are forced to live in an unhealthy habitat out of their own element during the testing period. Animals in labs suffer not only pain from protocols, but also severe stress from day-to-day laboratory life. They spend their lives in barren cages, unable to make choices or express natural behaviors. Most never experience fresh air or sunshine, only bars and concrete. Although most think that the Animal Welfare Act protects animals from abuse, it is a common misconception that the AWA protects animals against abuse and harm in the laboratory or in other areas of commerce. This is not true. According to the National Anti-Vivisection Society the AWA regulates the use of animals in research and outlines standards for their care, it does not protect
Researchers treat animals right because they use them to uncover cures and treatment that humans can use. Scientist Hollis Cline and Mar Sanchez stated, “that animals in research are treated “humanely and with dignity” (Garner, 2016). These two scientists reassured the reader that animals subjected to testing are treated with respect. They are not treated in bad testing conditions, which may harm the animals and manipulate the outcome of the test. In addition to these scientists claim, there are also laws protecting animals, such as “federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)” (ProCon, 2017). Treating these animals with dignity is correct by the researchers because the animal is sacrificing his/her freedom to the outside world so it can be experiment on to find medical treatments and cures for
Millions of animals suffer due to effects of testing they must endure. This testing is usually done unethically and causes major harm. It’s wrong to harm animals for the sake of testing products for society. Furthermore, animals are living creatures just like humans and should not be treated differently. While testing animals may be cheaper, it is morally wrong and causes many harmful side effects in animals.
Animals are living creatures and we should not experiment on them, forcing them to live with injuries or illnesses: It is wrong. We should not be able to manipulate them and hurt them forcing them to live with injuries or illnesses we inflicted without them being able to fight back. They suffer everyday being held in small cages with no freedom until they find their untimely end most likely being euthanized. Testing on animals is not even a reliable study; this is something that the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS) argues. The AAVS is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to advocacy for animals and eliminating animals from all experimentation in the USA. The AAVS believe “animals have the right not to be exploited for science and we should not have to choose between helping humans and harming animals.” (2013, paragraph 9) Using animals in experimentations is questioned more and more every year because of the reduced reliability shown over time. Some scientific limitations are that even though a treatment or medicine may work on an animal the outcome on a human may be entirely different. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt says, “nine out of ten experimental drugs fail in clinical studies because we cannot accurately predict how they will behave in people based on laboratory and animal studies.” (2013, paragraph 16) Studies using animals are flawed because of the differences in physiology, metabolism, anatomy, and genetics. Helen Marston brings up a
We cannot overlook the factor that this process of using animals in experiments against their will subjects them to a lot of stress which in hindsight could tamper with the results making them less accurate and unreliable. As found on the Food and Drug Administration, Non-human creatures cannot contract the HIV virus yet it is considered deadly in humans. A medication that appeared promising in treating rhesus macaques in animals was also ineffective in humans. Animal experiments should stop because alternatives have been widely discovered (Christopher 40). In addition to this, scientists have developed a lot more in the campaign to terminate use of animals in experiments (Hackmann 40). Plastic models and computers can effectively substitute use of animals in experiments. In vitro examination: IC50 assesses how much chemicals can be to cells hence can replace LC50 examination that oversees a chemical given to a number of animals to determine what amount is able to kill more than half of the all population of the animals. Another method is the FDA, which is a technique that provides credible information on how humans can be widely affected by new drugs (Food and Drug Administration 77).
Experimentation is a vital aspect of all sciences, as it validates hypothesis and furthers scientific development. However, many believe that science crosses the line when animals become subjected to experimentation as a way to further research. This is a controversial topic, as it examines what to us, as humans, is more important, morality or science? These animals are forced to endure pain and suffering, in an attempt to prolong and ease the lives of humans. Animal vivisection is unethical, and there are alternatives that can be utilized, therefore, it should be lessened, and ultimately eradicated.
Hope Ferdowsian and Nancy Beck, authors of the article “Ethical and scientific considerations regarding animal testing and research”, published in the journal PLoS ONE argued that scientists should consider whether or not testing on animals is ethical in hopes to lessen the usage of animals for experiments. Hope Ferdowsian is a member of the “physicians committee for responsible medicine” (Ferdowsian & Beck, 2011, P. 1) in Washington DC. She studied international affairs, and currently advocates for animal rights, while Nancy Beck works in the“department of medicine” (Ferdowsian & Beck, 2011, P. 1) at George Washington University. Both authors suggest that scientists use the “3R’s” (Ferdowsian & Beck, 2011, P. 1), also known as reducing the
Animals must be submitted to suffering pain that push their bodies to the limit. They also suffer dreadfully as ardous chemicals are caressed into their skin, forced down their throats, and even dropped in their eyes without any pain relief (Wayne Pacelle). Experiments with animals are virtually tortured to death, and all of these tests are done in the interests of human welfare, without any thought to how the animals are treated(Lone Star College). Animals are being overdose and observed until they die with all the chemicals that are submerging into their bodies(Wayne Pacelle). But even though we are using animals for human welfare the Food and Drug Administration reports that 92 out of 100 drugs that pass on animals fail on humans. This is more than half the animals. Humankind is just assassinating animals almost for no reason(P.E.T.A.) Mankind requires about 50 experiments (12,000 animals), only for one single pesticide that’s futile.(P.E.T.A.) Furthermore, mankind is only using 27% for basic research in animals and 13% for regulatory use(“Cruelty Free International”) Besides it also states that 49% of all experiments were conducted at universities often using taxpayers’ funds to support these “playful” experiments. As a final point, testing on animals for medicine and worthless purposes just causes great apprehension for these animals(“Cruelty Free
Every year, millions of animals suffer through painful and unnecessary tests. Animals in laboratories all over the world live lives of deprivation, pain, isolation, and torture. Even though vast studies show that animal experimentation often lacks validity, leading to harmful human reactions, we still continue to use this method of experimentation, while many other less-expensive and more beneficial alternatives exist. Going beyond the issue of animal experimentation being morally wrong, this form of research is also hindering medical progress. Although the use of animals in laboratories is said to be necessary for the welfare and health of humans, people mistakenly believe that this immoral and unscientific method of experimentation is
Animal experimentation by scientists can be cruel and unjust, but at the same time it can provide long term benefits for humanity. Animals used in research and experiments have been going on for 2,000 years and keep is going strong. It is a widely debated about topic all over the world. Some say it is inhuman while others say it’s for the good of human kind. There are many different reasons why people perform experiments and why others total disagree with it.