The use of animals in medical research and testing is widely debated topic that spans decades and covers both the ethics and economics of the issue. There are two main groups within the debate surrounding animal testing: those who are for it and those who are against it. Animal testing can be described as the use of non-human animals in an experimental context that pertains to some form of medical testing (cosmetic allergy testing, cancer research, etc). As Donna Yarri the author of The Ethics of Animal Experimentation: A Critical Analysis and Constructive Christian Proposal explains, the idea medical experimentation began with Darwins Theory of Evolution, when humans were first understood to be animals and humans began to be considered,
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In these studies, pregnant animals (rats, mice, rabbits, and sometimes amphibians) are killed just prior to delivery and the fetuses are examined for any sign of toxic effects by the test substance.” (Product Development and Drug Testing).
Skin irritation, Corrosion, Sensitization, and Absorption tests are used to test “for skin irritation (level of damage caused to the skin by a substance) and corrosivity (potential of a substance to cause irreversible damage to the skin) are typically conducted on rabbits using the classic Draize skin test, the lesser-known cousin of its ocular counterpart.The test is done by placing a chemical or chemical mixture on an area where the animal’s skin has been shaved; the skin may be prepared by removing layers of skin to cause abrasions.” (Product Development and Drug Testing). Toxicokinetics and ADME which is used to “determine how a toxic substance will affect the body, a series of tests on the drug’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) are carried out. These studies often involve rats and mice, who are given the substance through means of intravenous injection, inhalation, topical application to the skin, or forced feeding.” (Product Development and Drug …show more content…
Animal rights activists have been fighting against animal use in medical testing for years. As the author of the article “History of Protest Against Animal Tests”, Ian Murnaghan, explains, “Animal protests have a long and turbulent history, from their emergence in the twentieth century to the last decade. Since the 1960s and 1970s, protests increased a great deal…” (Murnaghan, 2015). This increase also coincided with the rise of women’s rights and minority protest groups. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, otherwise known as PETA, is one of the most well-known animal rights protest groups. PETA formed in 1980 (PETA Milestones) and with 3 million members and supporters they are also one of the largest (About PETA). As explained by the “About PETA” section on their
In these studies, pregnant animals (rats, mice, rabbits, and sometimes amphibians) are killed just prior to delivery and the fetuses are examined for any sign of toxic effects by the test substance.” (Product Development and Drug Testing).
Skin irritation, Corrosion, Sensitization, and Absorption tests are used to test “for skin irritation (level of damage caused to the skin by a substance) and corrosivity (potential of a substance to cause irreversible damage to the skin) are typically conducted on rabbits using the classic Draize skin test, the lesser-known cousin of its ocular counterpart.The test is done by placing a chemical or chemical mixture on an area where the animal’s skin has been shaved; the skin may be prepared by removing layers of skin to cause abrasions.” (Product Development and Drug Testing). Toxicokinetics and ADME which is used to “determine how a toxic substance will affect the body, a series of tests on the drug’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) are carried out. These studies often involve rats and mice, who are given the substance through means of intravenous injection, inhalation, topical application to the skin, or forced feeding.” (Product Development and Drug …show more content…
Animal rights activists have been fighting against animal use in medical testing for years. As the author of the article “History of Protest Against Animal Tests”, Ian Murnaghan, explains, “Animal protests have a long and turbulent history, from their emergence in the twentieth century to the last decade. Since the 1960s and 1970s, protests increased a great deal…” (Murnaghan, 2015). This increase also coincided with the rise of women’s rights and minority protest groups. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, otherwise known as PETA, is one of the most well-known animal rights protest groups. PETA formed in 1980 (PETA Milestones) and with 3 million members and supporters they are also one of the largest (About PETA). As explained by the “About PETA” section on their