Biomedical Research Is Inhumane

Animal Experimentation Aside from agony and a shortened life, do animals get any benefit from being used for biomedical research? The use of animals for research goes back to Greek and Roman times. Biomedical animal experimentation has led to many cures for diabetes, antibiotics, polio, tranquilizers, etc. In 1966, the U.S. Congress passed the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to exclude birds and certain types of rats and mice used in research. Many believe we need the use of biomedical research to find advances for future human health. Others argue that animal testing is not necessary, they feel that harming and killing the animals is inhumane (SIRS). This paper will examine the pro, con and my viewpoint on whether animals should be used for biomedical …show more content…
Firstly, animals are less important than humans, so it’s okay to use animals for research. A Pro-animal group promotes the slogan, “Ever heard of leprosy? Thanks to animal research you won’t.” (Goodman). The historic philosopher Rene Descartes did research on rabbits and dogs and eventually led him to believe that animals had no souls (Goodman). Justin R. Goodman, a researcher for the American Sociological Association, points out that biomedical research helped to create in vitro fertilization, which led to the 2010 Nobel Prize (Goodman). Secondly, research on chimpanzees has improved the quality of life for humans, while also treating the animals humanely. Dr. Francis Collin, Director of National Institute of Health (NIH), confirms that research on animals has enabled scientists to create new solutions for illnesses, to help increase our life span, and to improve our well-being. An NIH Committee states that they are “committed to conducting and supporting high-quality science in the interest of advancing public health, and to the humane care and use of animals used in the NIH biomedical research” (Collins). A research committee called Institute of Medicine (IOM) declares that research is done on animals only when there is no other option (Collins). Lastly, Biomedical Research on animals has been extremely important for human treatments. A newspaper in London named The Independent claims that biomedical research …show more content…
For starters, animals should only be used for serious health conditions. The NIH committee encourages scientist to continue using chimps to find a vaccine for hepatitis C virus (NIH). Also, according to The Independent Newspaper, using animals will benefit tremendously for diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Wall Street Journal writer, Frankie L. Trull, confirms that “Patients with aggressive brain tumors finally have a reason for hope. Thanks to the work of scientist and physicians at Duke University, a new experimental treatment used on macaque monkeys in research for Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM is saving the lives of people who suffer from this disease.” The next circumstance in which animal experimentation is acceptable is when the species is not in danger of extinction in the wild. Breeding is essential to scientists, so they do not drive research species extinct. This will allow scientist to continue research on animals/rodents that have similarities as humans. Trull explains that monkeys used for research in the U.S. come from breeding farms in Asia and Mauritius. Michael Anft from Johns Hopkins Magazine points out the Federal Government and laboratories breed up to 3,500 strains of mice for their unique research (Anft). According to Keyata Thompson, a researcher for Hopkins University, the school has around 10 facilities to raise and breed mice. They also breed and ship