Arguments Against Animal Testing

For years, scientists have relied on animals to test cosmetic, hygienic, and medical products before administering them to humans. Although scientific breakthroughs and discoveries have been made by using animals to test these products, most animals experience unnecessary abuse and cruelty. Even if some products are effective when used by animals, this does not guarantee that they will be effective in humans. There are currently no established laws that protect small animals that are currently used as test subjects from cruelty or abuse. In efforts to terminate this cruelty and abuse, scientists have developed different methods that replace animal testing. Even with these methods, scientists and researchers return to their habitual ways and …show more content…
This statement is true. However, there are many downfalls to using animals as replacements for humans in experiments. In fact, studies show that 94% of drugs that are successful in animals are not successful in humans. Neurologist Aysha Akhtar, MD, MPH, offers evidence to this statement by recalling that, “One hundred stroke drugs that were effective when tested on animals, have failed in humans.” She continues, “Over 85 HIV vaccines failed in humans after working well in non-human primates.” A study conducted in 2013 yielded similar results. Close to one hundred and fifty clinical trials were conducted using a drug that eliminated inflammation in intense care patients. This drug was effective in the animals used to initially test this drug, but unsuccessful when tested using human test subjects. The results were similar with a sleeping aid that was developed in the 1950s. This drug was linked to several birth defects in children whose mother used the drug. In animal tests conducted using pregnant mice, the result differed. No damage was done to the mother’s fetus unless the drug was administered in large quantities. Reversely, some substances that are toxic to animals are beneficial to humans. One example of such a substance is aspirin. To further repudiate the argument made by those in favor of animal testing, no evidence has supported the idea that the existing chief scientific breakthroughs were solely attributed to the use of animal testing. When asked if medical breakthroughs still could be achieved without conducting experiments using animals, Director of Research Defense Society replied, “I am sure it could be.” If other means and materials were provided and available, alternate solutions to animal testing would