Jamie L. Vernon's Article PETA Should Rethink Its Campaign

Worldwide, there has always been a plethora of issues concerning whether animals should or should not be used for biomedical research. There are some advocating for the best and most-advanced medicine for the people; with disregard for the animal’s health. They believe people’s needs should be the first concern. However, others put the animal’s health first. If the animal is not in safe conditions, then it does not matter what medicine advances might be discovered. Biomedical research is defined as “The application of the natural sciences, especially the biological and physiological sciences, to clinical medicine” (“Biomedicine.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/biomedical.). Without biomedical research on animals, modern medicine would not exist. Animal testing has enabled the findings of treatments for cancer, antibiotics for infections, and preventatives for illnesses. For these reasons, animal testing should be used in the process of developing biomedical research.

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.

Asking just about any animal rights activists on the thoughts of animal testing, it is reasonable to expect that the majority of them would address crucial flaws in many of the laws in regards to animals and how animals are supposedly “protected” by these laws. Trained scientists and researchers take on the key role of testing on animals in laboratories and facilities throughout the world, using the excuse that we are expanding knowledge and furthering medical research. In the United States alone, there are very few laws truly protecting animals from the unnecessary amounts of suffering the research forces upon them with many exceptions. Additionally, in reference to the scientists who perform these tests, the author of the article,

The testing of animals in scientific and commercial research has been debated for many years. Some people view animals as companions or part of the family, but others think of them as a way to advance medicine by providing researchers with a means to develop better medical techniques, discovering vaccines, and helping to find a cure for a disease. Regardless of how a person may view animals, they are worthy of better protection by our government and us as a society. Although some animal testing has been successful, there are research alternatives that could eliminate the pain, suffering, and deaths that animals endure in scientific research. Therefore, animals should not be used in scientific research

Through testing with animal research scientist have been able to create new cures and treat once thought incurable diseases. Many biomedical experiments developed treatments for anthrax, rabies, polio and smallpox, as well as developed anti-depressants, tranquilizers and antibiotics for medical use. Advocates of the opposition are hardly reasonable as their opinions are adjusted purely for emotional value. Their main argument is the fact that animal testing harms

For decades, people have been using animals as the go-to method for testing scientific breakthroughs, but not only is this concept outdated, it is a cruel punishment inflicted on harmless creatures. Animal cruelty is a well-known problem around the United States that is a growing issue for debate. A study has shown that less than 2% of human illnesses are found in animals and over 98% are ineffective on animals (Peta2). “The Food and Drug Administration reports that 92 out of every 100 drugs that pass animal tests fail in humans” (PETA). Not only does animal testing hurt the animals, it is a waste of time. These are just some of the reasons why animal testing is pointless and should be banned. It is time that the United States recognizes animal testing as unacceptable because of its negative effects on both humans and animals: it is inhumane for many reasons, it proves to be very expensive and costly, and it’s pointless on many accounts.

The term “animal testing” refers to procedures performed on animals for the benefit of humans. An estimated 25 million animals are tested on each year in the United States for scientific and commercial testing. It is used for biomedical research, medical usage, behavioral research, cosmetics, and the list goes on. Research on living animals has been practiced since at least 500 B.C. Many argue that animal testing is necessary for research, but with the medical technology we have today, this has been proven incorrect. The cost of animal testing is hundreds of thousands per year in the U.S. Animal testing is cruel and should not be allowed because it is abusive, expensive, and there are substitutes.

Some groups that are on the supporting side of animal testing are Understanding Animal Research and Speaking of Research. In Understanding Animal Research, there are people like Wendy Jerrett, the Chief Executive, who has been working in health communications for almost 30 years. One of their main arguments is that “ while non-animal methods play an important part of biomedical research, they cannot replace all use of animals.” This statement does make sense, however, through research I have not found anything that cannot be altered to replace animal testing. Despite this, Speaking of Research brings up a good argument that can support the former one. People in Speaking of Research include Christine Archer, who is a registered veterinary technician. One of their arguments is that “ The success of many animal rights groups’ campaigns depend heavily upon the poor public understanding of animal research, uncountered misrepresentations of scientists and their work, and exploitation of the misconceptions and negative perceptions that many people have of the use of animals in the biomedical and behavioral sciences.” So, by their way of thinking, all the negative opinions about animal experimentation are only because of misunderstandings and the uneducated public.

Despite there being a large number of Americans favoring animal testing whether because they are misled as to its efficacy, are unaware of the true practices in this field, or simply have no regard for the life of these creatures in the slightest sense, animal testing has many negative aspects. Throughout the world and more specifically in the twenty-first century scientific community, experimental research done through the use of animal subjects has detrimental effects on animals. In addition, the processes tested on animals are not carried out with good moral standards, and the true value of scientific understanding gained from using these species is irrelevant. Animal testing should be prohibited.

Animal testing continues to assist in evolving the medical field in other ways besides testing treatments. Animals gives doctors the ability to practice different surgeries, and it has succeeded for many different operations. “Modern surgical techniques including hip replacement surgery, kidney transplants, heart transplants, and blood transfusions were all perfected in animals” (Understanding Animal Research, 2014, p.1). If animal testing were abandoned, doctors would not be able to get the practice for a certain surgery. New surgeries would not be able to develop as time moves on as well. “Experiments using animals are not merely helpful; they were and remain a necessary condition for most critical advances in protecting human health” (Silver Lake Intermediate School, 2010, p.4). Using animals in research is what keeps the human race going and safer from diseasee. Many people want to take this away, but they do not understand the importance behind using animals for experiments. Humans would struggle in so many different ways just because people do not want to harm animals in the process of medical research. Even so, animal experimentation is not as terrifying as most people would think.

On the other hand, animal testing has been extremely important and has saved many lives, and continue to do so. “The California Biomedical Research Association states that nearly every medical breakthrough in the last 100 years has resulted directly from research using animals.” (California Biomedical Research Association). The benefits of animal testing far out way the costs. If saving humans from disease and death means that there will be some loss in animal lives, then that is a sacrifice medical research should be willing to

According to the studies made by the National Institutes of Health, have found that 30 institutes have been using animals for testing and research. Throughout the years scientists have been doing tests on animals to try and find cures for many diseases. They have found that animal testing has found many cure for human and animal diseases. Using animals for testing could save animal and humans lives. Animal testing can be beneficial for curing many diseases. Testing animals for research should stay legal because animals could potentially help find disease cures and they are appropriate testees for research and testing.

When it comes to the topic of animal testing, most of us will readily agree that supporters believe its wrong for people to test animals for cures, and interfere with their lives. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of the animal testing there is no alternative method for researching living organism, and the mistreatment of animals in the laboratories. Where some are convinced that animal testing is cruel and inhumane to experiment on animals. There is alternative method to research that can replace animal testing. Animals are different from human, as they research them and found out that its irrelevant results. Animals don’t have the cognitive ability or the morals standards like we do as humans. I see if the researchers

Every year, thousands of animals are forced to undergo multiple experiments and procedures in laboratories for the sake of testing new products or for scientific purposes. Some issues that are in support of testing on lab animals include its contribution to many life-saving cures and treatments, allows to test on a living body system, are appropriate research subjects due to their similarity to human subjects, animals do not have human rights, allows for human products to be tested for safety, religious beliefs that entitle humans to have dominion over all animals, and this method of testing is a small price to pay for advancing medical progress. According to a study done by the California Biomedical Research Association, “…nearly every medical breakthrough in the last 100 years has resulted directly from research using animals. We have made significant progress against diseases such as polio, smallpox, cancer, heart diseases, and diabetes among many, thanks to animals.” Allowing scientists to do their lab research on animals enables them to explore new ways to cure diseases or develop safer products for humans to use. Some values that are in support of animal testing include safety, quality of life, education, and health.

There are many valid reasons why we should continue testing on animals. The life of a human is ultimately more valuable than that of an animal. Without animal research, there would not be the medication as we know it today. Animal testing has enabled science to progress and find treatments for viruses, produce antibiotics for some of the deadly disease, infections as well as preventatives in a form of developing vaccines to cure diseases. Moreover, the factor of moral obligations entreat the facts that there are excessive structures with laws in place to protect the animal from being abuse and mistreated, as all animal testing proposals must be approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. According to animal testing ProCon,