Animal Research, Essay Example

Topicality

Having reached the present stage of development, humanity now treats the problem of animal experimenting from the ethics basis. Heated public debates reveal societal attitudes towards experimenting on animals and include different opinions.

The radical opponents of animal research insist on its complete elimination. Their struggle bases on demonstrations, printing of instructive leaflets, laws lobbying, and sometimes violence from extremist animal rights defenders. On the other hand, supporters consider experiments of the kind a logical and natural way of developing contemporary science. They justify the need for tests by the knowledge they help to obtain. Much has changed from ancient times when human and non-human animals underwent vivisection “to satisfy anatomical curiosity” (Monamy, 2000, p. 8).

The problem of animal experimentations has been a subject of on-going discussions initiating in 1970’s. The discussions have gradually shifted accents from the question “forbidding/permitting” to animal care, ethic aspect of animal pain etc.

Primarily all of them concern scientists or future scientists involved into the named experiments personally. Though, if you are not involved in laboratory work, connected with animal experimentation directly, or do not belong to a group of animal rights activists, this problem still touches you. No doubt, some day you have experienced medical benefits of remedy tested on animals or cosmetics.

The first step of changing the situation lies in the realization of the problem existing. Most people are unaware of what happens to animals participating in the tests.

Fields of Research   

According to the data given by the site “Understanding Animal Research”, animals are used in Great Britain in the following areas in descending order:  laboratory animals breeding, fundamental biological and medical research, treatments or preventing methods development, safety-testing of domestic, agriculture or industry products, new ways of diagnosis developing.

One of the spheres that obligatory refers to animal research, namely the process of study, presently involves ethic aspect of vivisection. In 1987, American student, who failed the course of physiology because of refusal to conduct vivisection, gained a suit at law. Scientists work at alternatives of equal worth for the experiments. Three-dimensional models, cell and tissue cultures, computer programs, instructive films, animal bodies dead with natural death, clinical practice guided by an experienced tutor are efficient in doctor, veterinary, biologist training.  Thus, many progressive educational institutions in different countries appeal to named alternative methods of studies.

In some areas, like testing of cosmetics products, involving general toxicity examination can not be justified. John Hospers states that cruel treatment of animals refers also to the experiments that not necessary for disease treatment but are “out or intellectual curiosity or curiosity about nature”.

Evidently, “humanistic” mankind does not approve the barbarian Drize eye irritation test. It is conducted to check the ability a cream, shampoo or detergent to irritate mucous membranes and cutaneous coverings, to test their general toxicity, mutagenic and carcinogenic effect. Researches give substance by small doses into eyes of a conscious rabbit and examine the effect, namely the injury of the cornea. Such experiments often end by the atrophy of the cornea. It is a long-term process and may take several weeks of suffering. The head of a rabbit is fixed in a machine; eye-lashes settled by a special holder to keep eyes open. Rabbits have been selected for these tests because their eyes do not secrete tears washing the substance out of eyes.

Another method of toxicity check out is the “Lethal Dose 50” (“LD-50”) in which animals, usually rats, get gradually increasing dose of a substance. It is injected into the stomach through a pipe, inhaled with harmful vapors, or placed on the skin.

The aim of the experiment is to determine the amount of matter that kills 50 percents of animals within a period.

Animal Research Regulations

Every country regulates the question by acts and laws. The documents of the UK are among the strictest in the world. They can serve a pattern for other countries. In this country, both central government and local ones participate in animal testing control and monitoring. The legal texts control various aspects of animal experimentations ranging from veterinary aid available to appropriate care. Government-maintained control structures assure that the requirements are met. Specifications define not only experiment conditions, but also the craft, appropriate skills and training of investigators and technicians involved.

Animal welfare depends much on the mandatory usage of “the three R’s” of research worked out more than 50 years ago: replacement, reduction, refinement.   The principle of replacement means the possibility of using non-animal experiments instead of animal ones. Reduction employs the possible minimization of animals’ number participating in a research project. Refinement principle relies on minimal pain or distress by the help of painkillers.

In the USA, Animal Welfare Act was initially passed in 1966; in 2009 Pet Safety and Protection Act concluded that animals may be necessary for some types of bio-medical experiments. One of the issues the Act regulates is the demand of humane conduct with animals intended for experiments. It also determines research facilities like research institutions, laboratories. All of them must be registered.

Opinion  

Biological kindred, hundreds of common health problems make animals a decent object of study. The significance of animals in new treatment development, investigation of body condition in healthy and ill state, safety testing cannot be overestimated. I realize the importance of priceless results received in these experiments, as well as, animals suffering; millions of rodents, fish, reptiles, birds, sheep, cows, pig, dogs, cat and other large and small mammals die. The figure of 60 million annual procedures worldwide draws public attention to the problem. Hence, I adhere to the opinion that such experiments must not be conducted unnecessarily. They may be efficiently used as part of research projects. The animal research should be used in case other alternative non-animal methods are impossible. Animal studies are now effective, alongside with cells and tissues study, people volunteer participation, computer-modeled tests. The words of British Home Office Minister Joan Ryan (2006) can be regarded as a reasonable slogan:  “Where animal research is the only option, we will continue to ensure that the balance between animal welfare and scientific advancement is maintained” (How is animal research regulated?)

Digital age enables humanity to conduct numerable high-quality reliable experiments basing on various computer programs. Huge companies should think over the possibility of quitting animal research. Of course, expenses needed to initiate the changes prevent from innovations. Company managers pay more attention to profits than to animal welfare.

Besides, the results do not always appear to be correct for human beings; it becomes evident only after testing on man. In many cases, the reaction of the human organism is often the same with animal. Experiments frequently lead to health damage, because of the fallacious results.

Dr. Robert Sharpe in his work “Science on Trial” dwells on 101 animal experiments resulting in mistakes leading to irreversible damage. We will speak of several facts. In 1983, the experiments conducted on animals proved that the nuclear industry was not connected with rising children leukemia rates in the British Sellafild. Then further researches disposed the fact that radiation did not cause leukemia.

Most medicines come into the market after animal research. Then they are considered absolutely safe. Nevertheless results of these tests do not always prove to be reliable. The animal tests of the drug Suprol (Soprofen) proved safety for man. After many patients had suffered nephritic damages and pain, it was withdrawn from sales. Most of the victims had to undergo regular medic check-up within several years.

The British acts of animal research regulation give appropriated guidelines for mankind caring of animal welfare. World community should minimize the experiments and replace them by equivalent humane methods of investigation, toxicity tests, and medicine development. We should restrict the number of animals participating, suffering pain, ailing and dying of cruel actions people conduct on them.

References

How is animal research regulated? Retrieved July 24, 2010 from http://www.understanding animalresearch.org.uk/page/download_document/?document_id=7

Monamy, V. (2000). Animal experimentation: a guide to the issues. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved July 24, 2010 from http://books.google.com/books?id=kNAewYppkXMC&printsec=frontcover&dq =animal+research&hl=uk&ei=bJhMTKitDMWJ4gbYh-GZDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CD4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=anim al%20research&f=false