Introduction
The topic of animal testing has been a debatable subject for quite a length of time. The determination of whether it is worth taking the life of an animal in a bid to treat any human disease has been surrounded by multiple ethical, social, legal as well as moral questions. The controversy between the arguments from both sides, those who support and those who oppose animal testing, has been aggravated by the fact that animal testing still remains a common practice in many laboratories across the world. The claims that some animals are similar to human beings have been proven wrong by several studies that show the total absence of biological identity between such animals and human animals. However, the necessity of animal testing in the field of medicine and cosmetics can still be argued out.
An argument based on the above introduction can conclusively identify two sides on the same issue: one in support of animal testing while the other is against animal testing.
Purpose.
This study solely aims at determining whether animal testing is an important process before introducing a new cosmetic or medicine. It seeks to look in to the advantages and disadvantages of animal testing and try to establish a solid conclusion regarding the validity of animal testing.
Hypotheses
After in-depth studies and analyses, I will argue in support of animal testing as a necessary procedure in the production of new drugs and cosmetics that can improve the quality of human life. My research will argue in defense and support of animal testing as a result. In a bid to weigh the justification of animal testing, this report entails the following sections:
- Research plan
- Results
- Discussion of the results
- Recommendations.
Research plan
This being a factual research paper, it shall be handled with utmost objectivity in a bid to justify the importance of animal testing in the field of medicine and cosmetics. I purpose to look in to the problem statement by exploring several academic sources on the same topic. I equally intend to remain objective throughout my research paper and avoid any instances of subjectivity. I will look at areas where the testing has been employed and the outcomes of such procedures. Finally, the research will aim at revealing the unavoidable importance of animal testing. The report seeks to explore the pros and cons of animal testing.
Results.
Animal testing has been used widely in all laboratories in the world where there is any medical or cosmetic research. Animals have been subjected to the conditioned laboratory conditions and chemicals in a bid to test the effectiveness of certain drugs before they are induced in any human beings. The best results and outcomes of animal testing can be illustrated by the development of several curative and preventive medications for the human race. Animal testing has been applied widely and the results of its application have been discussed below.
Discussion of the results
Animal testing has been argued to be an immoral and inanimate procedure due to the fact that it deprives animals their rightful living at the expense of the human race. The procedures deprive animals of all their natural rights and are subjected to conditioned/ restraint environments and devices during such experiments. The laboratory testing procedures result in psychological trauma as well as social isolation as well as undeserved deaths, for the victims. The process of animal testing is also wasteful and unreliable. Animals, being different species from human beings, their experimentation hardly contribute to the improvement of human health and the contribution of such experiments to medical advances is subject to doubt. The diseases induced in animals in the laboratory during experimentation far much differ with any disease that can be traced to any human being. A good example is the cure of cancer on mice that has always failed in human beings. The cure of HIV/AIDS has also been a success in other primates but it has failed in human beings. The animal funding processes have also become very expensive and unbearable. It has resulted in unnecessary financial load on the members of the public who knowingly or unknowingly contribute to the animal testing sustenance. This is done through taxes, donations and purchases of other items amongst other spending methods. The underwriting of animal experimentation has been responsible for the unjustifiable expenditure of vast public funds. Animal testing is also a socially viewed as a wrong and cruel practice that is unnecessary. (http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animals-used-experimentation-factsheets/animal-experiments-overview/)
On the other hand, animal testing is viewed as a necessary procedure in the creation of cosmetics and drugs. This is justified by the reason that the drugs and cosmetics need to be tested before application on any human being to avoid any negative impacts on the beings. The use of computers and other artificial tests for drugs and cosmetics cannot give reliable results as the experiments on animals would give. (https://apbiostoga.wikispaces.com/Animal+Testing+Rights+Pd.+1). Animal testing is an inevitable procedure because any drug that is licensed for sale must be tested on an animal(s). Most enjoyable and powerful cures today are as a result of animal testing. Cancer is for instance more bearable today than ever before and that’s all due to animal testing. Other chronic disorders such as ectopic pregnancies have got a cure from animal testing. (http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/business/2012/07/truth-about-animal-testing)There also exist many alternatives to animal testing that if applied can gradually eradicate the use of animal testing in experimentations. Researchers can use methods such as in vitro testing, refinement, reduction, and replacement which are all aimed at reducing the pain and harm inflicted in to the animal.( http://chelseamorris.webs.com/alternatives.htm) Due to the public opposition waged against animal testing, there has emerged so many alternatives for experimentation apart from the unfairness to animals. Animal testing exposes the animals to undue suffering and pain as well as the risks that come with the chemicals applied in to their bodies. (http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v16/n12/full/nm1210-1348.html)
Recommendation.
According to the great contributions of animal testing, it remains a viable and justifiable procedure in the development and testing if all medicines and cosmetics. Despite the arguments against animal testing, the benefits derived from it far much outdo the costs and as such I would strongly support the advancement of the practice in the field of medical research. It is a great and stable stepping stone to any reasonable and safe discovery of medicines or cosmetics. An avoidance of the same would subject human beings to the risk of using harmful substances which would even be poisonous: the life of human beings if much important than that of any animal, it is better to lose an animal’s life than a human life.
References
<http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animals-used-experimentation-factsheets/animal-experiments-overview/><https://apbiostoga.wikispaces.com/Animal+Testing+Rights+Pd.+1>< http://chelseamorris.webs.com/alternatives.htm>< http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v16/n12/full/nm1210-1348.html>< http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/business/2012/07/truth-about-animal-testing>
