Ethics Of Animal Testing

Millions of animals every year are being used in labs to test cosmetics. This problem has become a worldwide issue and the U.S. needs to make a change by prohibiting the use of animals in testing cosmetics for safe use.

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.

Each year, thousands of animals are brutally tortured in laboratories, in the name of cosmetic research. A movement to ban animal testing for cosmetic purposes has been gaining popularity, with many companies hopping on the bandwagon against this research. New alternatives have been developed to eliminate the necessity to test on animals. This is only a small beginning of what is necessary to end these immoral acts. Animal testing in cosmetics is useless and cruel, and can be accomplished by other methods of research to end the suffering of animals.

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

Many people might say that animal testing has proven results for the safety of beauty products and cosmetics. Although, in some cases it is helpful, why would you want to use such an old outdated method of research in 2017 many more methods have opened up due to advanced technology. Animal testing dates back to the 1900’s and yet in the 21st-century companies are still doing this even though it is more costly than alternative methods.

Animal testing dates back all the way to Greek physician scientists like Aristotle and Erasistratus. Greek scientist conducted experiments to understand the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology just like our scientists do today. The moral ethics of animal testing has always been questioned, but many cures and treatments have been found due to animal testing discoveries. Animal testing is necessary for humankind 's overall well being, as well as today 's society 's advancement to further the knowledge of the medical field.

Over the last couple hundred years, our world has expanded beyond its horizons and the new equipment and advanced technology has allowed humans to succeed in many areas, but has also damaged the basic ethics and morals in some of us. Today on television, we see the over dramatized body spray commercials or a famous celebrity advertising their favorite shampoo and stating its claims, but what most do not know is that a couple or couple hundred, animals were killed to approve, by law, of that product. This act is called animal testing, which is the method or experiment that forces an animal to go through any harm or distress (Thew). I do not agree with this practice simply because it harms innocent animals for products that we do not need

Every year in the United States of America more than 100 million helpless animals will suffer and die from malicious chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics tests. Rabbits, Cats, birds, reptiles and amphibians are not covered by the minimal protections of the Animal Welfare Act, so they go unnoticed towards the millions of sufferers. Millions of rodents, birds, rabbits, primates, felines, canines, and other types of animals are locked inside barren cages in laboratories across the country. People have diverse opinions on animal testing and its morality. Morality refers to the standards of right and wrong shared in the society. We can define it as “human rights.” Ten moral traditions that all serious people accept are:

Animal testing has been dated back to the BC ages. According to Hajar, experiments were performed on live animals by well-known ancient greek scientists such as Aristotle and Erasistratus. Animals became test subjects throughout many experiments in order to thoroughly comprehend pathology, physiology, pharmacology, and especially anatomy. However more recently animal testing has become a main source of testing for biomedical research and testing of pharmaceutical drugs. As animal testing has become a more common method, laws have been put in place in efforts to make it a more humane practice. In 1938, due to the release of a pharmaceutical drug that became poison to humans, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was put in place. The act

Millions of animals are being unneedlessly tested on for cosmetics, even though there are plenty of alternatives available and most of the results are unreliable or not applicable to humans. Although the fight against animal testing has made huge progress recently, America has yet to stop this cruel practice and chooses to torture animals while other countries are making a stop to the testing (“Animal Testing 101”).

Researchers down through the years have exploit humans and animals in horrific ways to test their experiment(s). Many of these treatments were insensate and it left psychological effects on those that participated. Those who were selected did not know the extent of what he or she would have to endure for the sake of research by scientist and psychologist. As part of history, society are learning about the Nuremberg Code, Milgram's obedience study, National Research Act and Belmont report. In addition the APA has ethical guidelines regarding the treatment of human beings.

I share your concerns about animal testing for cosmetics products in the United States, and I will support legislation that advocates for animal rights. Past legislation such as the Animal Welfare Act P.L. 89-54 helped protect animals such as dogs, cats, and other laboratory animals from being stolen for sale to research laboratories. Yet, helpless animals are suffering because of cosmetics companies’ animal testing.

The field of animal advocacy has historically suffered from a lack of research attention and animal testing for cosmetics is an ugly business. Around the world, many thousands of animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and mice suffer needlessly to test products like lipstick and shampoo, even though producing cruelty-free beauty products is safe and simple. All cosmetics should be cruelty-free and must stop animal testing for cosmetics as well as on the sale of new cosmetics that have been tested on animals. However in the European Union, Israel, and India have banned the sale of any cosmetics or cosmetics ingredients that have been tested on animals, it is a huge victory. These marketing bans mean that companies all around the world will have to abandon animal testing for cosmetics they want to sell in these huge markets. There are three defects of animal testing for cosmetics, which are immorality, unnecessary and high cost.

Animal testing has long played a part in the science of testing, and it still plays a very important role in the medical world. Testing on animals in order to create a cure for AIDS is one thing, but testing on animals for human vanity is another. Animal testing is used to test the safety of a product. It has kept some very unsafe substances out of the cosmetic world. However, in this day in age, animal testing is not the only way to test the safety of a product. Animal testing in cosmetics has decreased over the years. However, it is still used by many companies in America. Animal testing is not only cruel, but it is also unnecessary in today’s advanced scientific world.

“Beauty without cruelty” is the outcry that can be heard from animal right activists around the world. The FDA does not require companies to perform tests on animals but if the cosmetic product contains chemicals that can be seen as toxins, testing becomes a necessity. There are currently thirteen safety tests that are performed on animals.