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Abdulla Al Tawqi
Professor Joaquin
March 28, 2019
Introduction
Animal testing involves the process of conducting a scientific experiment on live
animals. With this process, animals are forced to undergo procedures that are believed painful,
upsetting, and can cause permanent harm to animals such as death. Statistics show that
approximately 25 million animals are used for commercial and scientific testing in the United
States every year. Basically, animals are used to create medications, determine the harmfulness
of these medical treatments, control the safety of products intended for human consumption, and
other commercial and biomedical uses. On the other hand, others argue that this process is not
only inhumane but also cruel. Indeed, animal testing is an inhumane and brutal process that
subject animals to extreme cruelty.
Annotated Bibliography
Doke, Sonali K., and Shashikant C. Dhawale. "Alternatives to animal testing: A review." Saudi
Pharmaceutical Journal 23.3 (2015): 223-229.
The number of animals utilized in experiments and research has grown significantly with
the progress of research and development in medical technology. Typically, every year, loads of
experimental animals are utilized across the world. The distress, suffering, and death subjected to
these animals during animal testing experiments has been a controversial topic for years. In
addition to the ethical concerns, there are also several disadvantages associated with animal
testing such as time-consuming processes, the requirement of experts, the cost of actually
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undergoing these experiments. Researchers and animal rights activists have recommended
several alternatives to animal Testing. The approach of 3Rs has been proposed to be used in a
laboratory setting. The 3Rs are reduction, refinement, and replacement. The concept of reduction
suggests the utilization of a minimum number of animals in such experiments. With replacement,
it is recommended that animals be ‘replaced’ with substitute procedures whereas refinement
involves researchers refining the animal facility to minimize distress and harm during scientific
processes.
Ferdowsian, Hope R., and Nancy Beck. "Ethical and scientific considerations regarding animal
testing and research." PloS one 6.9 (2011): e24059.
One of the most important efforts to study and assess the use of animals in tests is in the
mid-20th century, in the article The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique. The writers
wrote this article in response to development in animal testing and medical research and the
associated growth in the number of animals utilized. This article highlighted reduction,
refinement, and replacement of animals utilized, models which were later termed as the 3 Rs.
These models inspired scientists to work to minimize the number of animals experimented on to
the minimum regarded essential, restrict the distress and suffering these animals experience as
well as replacing the utilization of animals with other alternative methods that do not involve
animals. Statistics show that over 100 million are used every year in experiments in the world.
The 3 Rs acts as the foundation for current animal research rules.
Jain, Manshu, Ritu Gilotra, and Jitendra Mital. "Global trends of animal ethics and
scientific research." Journal of Medicinal Plants 5.2 (2017): 96-105.
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Human have benefited greatly from research and experiments encompassing animals.
Typically, progress in several treatments like leukemia and diabetes has been made through the
use of animals testing. Most scientists defend animal testing by citing the development made in
the field of medicine. However, some of the general public including animal rights’ activists are
against animal testing arguing that the process is inhumane to the animals. Animals used in
experiments experience unbelievable pain. They are forced to feed, breath, are deprived of food
and water, and sometimes are left with wounds and burns. Some studies cite that using animals
in research is unnecessary because there are other alternatives such as non-animals approaches
like computer modeling and tissue culture. Furthermore, using animals is unethical and immoral.
Using live animals and allowing them to face all kinds of distress is unethical and researchers
and scientists have a moral duty to the animals and the society.
Joffe, Ari R., et al. "The ethics of animal research: a survey of the public and scientists in North
America." BMC medical ethics 17.1 (2016): 17.
Given the massive public funding of animal experimentation in today’s societies, it is
predicted that the opinions against and for animal testing are established. The facts of normal
ethical opinions and counterarguments for this controversial issue are not usually publicly
deliberated, and it is likely that most individuals are not familiar with the details of the
discussion. Although animal testing carries ethical questions regarding the welfare and safety of
animals, it is proposed that such tests are conducted in a research setting. The ethical justification
of animal testing is founded on ‘benefits arguments’ that states that this process benefits human
considerably and therefore it is essential. Another justification is based on ‘traits of non-humananimals (NHA) assertions’ that argues that animals are not emotional, are property, and usually
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harm other animals. In other words, since the benefits of animal testing outweigh the costs, it is
scientifically warranted to use animals in experiments that will eventually benefit humans.
Knight, Andrew. "Weighing the costs and benefits of animal experiments." Eighth World
Congress on Alternafives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, Alternafives to Animal
Experimentafion, Proceedings. 2011
Most legislation regulating animal experimentation order that the damages expected to be
experienced by animals must be balanced against the benefits of the experiment. The key ethical
model supporting animal testing regulation and guidelines is that the possible benefits of this
research must exceed its predictable costs. Even though significant financial and human
guarantee costs exist, the major costs are taken by the animals used in such experimentation.
Furthermore, although experiment like these may be focused at producing benefits for animals or
the environment, the huge majority is focused on human benefits such as the progression of
knowledge, the development of medications and cosmetics, and the usage in educational settings.
Wide studies in animal experiments show that animal testing leads in medical advances.
Scientists can use animals to test the benefits and side effects of a particular medication that is
intended to treat human diseases.
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Work Cited
Doke, Sonali K., and Shashikant C. Dhawale. "Alternatives to animal testing: A review." Saudi
Pharmaceutical Journal 23.3 (2015): 223-229.
Ferdowsian, Hope R., and Nancy Beck. "Ethical and scientific considerations regarding animal
testing and research." PloS one 6.9 (2011): e24059.
Jain, Manshu, Ritu Gilotra, and Jitendra Mital. "Global trends of animal ethics and scientific
research." Journal of Medicinal Plants 5.2 (2017): 96-105.
Joffe, Ari R., et al. "The ethics of animal research: a survey of the public and scientists in North
America." BMC medical ethics 17.1 (2016): 17.
Knight, Andrew. "Weighing the costs and benefits of animal experiments." Eighth World
Congress on Alternafives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, Alternafives to Animal
Experimentafion, Proceedings. 2011
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