The Reasons Animal Testing Should Be Continued
The clash between the animal rights activists and researchers over the issue of, whether animals should be allowed to be studied in research labs, or not, is constantly debated. The heavily accepted plea of the animal rights activists to remove animals from testing is a completely preposterous goal, and when looked further in to, have extreme flaws and negative adverse effects on scientific progress and the world. Because of this, scientific research on animals should continue until other sustainable means are developed and the negative effects of the current “solutions” are resolved.
It is often claimed that the use of animals in testing is extremely dramatic and taxing on the animal’s health, and ultimately livelihood. While this is true in some cases, there are extreme restrictions on what scientists and researchers are allowed to do to these animals. With the most notable restrictions in the United Kingdom, where every researcher must have his procedural steps approved by a government organization known as the Home Office or HO, in England (Jha). The HO’s job is to first decide whether the use of animals is necessary, then to weigh the benefits of the research to the effect it has on the animals, and finally to minimize the suffering that the animal may endure by refining the process. This is known as the “three R’s”, which stands for Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement (Banner, 35). After all of these steps are taken, animals are finally allowed to be used in the research, while in the most humane possible way. This is especially implemented when used on primates (monkeys), where they are seen to have more human like qualities and minds, and seen to have a greater risk of having mental or physical discomfort (Randerson). Although it is more heavily implemented in primates, it is also taken in to great consideration for rats, mice, and fish that make up 95% percent of all research subjects (“Mice and Rats”). This should be especially pleasing,
It is often claimed that the use of animals in testing is extremely dramatic and taxing on the animal’s health, and ultimately livelihood. While this is true in some cases, there are extreme restrictions on what scientists and researchers are allowed to do to these animals. With the most notable restrictions in the United Kingdom, where every researcher must have his procedural steps approved by a government organization known as the Home Office or HO, in England (Jha). The HO’s job is to first decide whether the use of animals is necessary, then to weigh the benefits of the research to the effect it has on the animals, and finally to minimize the suffering that the animal may endure by refining the process. This is known as the “three R’s”, which stands for Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement (Banner, 35). After all of these steps are taken, animals are finally allowed to be used in the research, while in the most humane possible way. This is especially implemented when used on primates (monkeys), where they are seen to have more human like qualities and minds, and seen to have a greater risk of having mental or physical discomfort (Randerson). Although it is more heavily implemented in primates, it is also taken in to great consideration for rats, mice, and fish that make up 95% percent of all research subjects (“Mice and Rats”). This should be especially pleasing,