Argumentative Essay: Do Animals Have Moral Rights

For many years, the debate of whether animals have moral rights or not has been thrown around court rooms, social media, and protests. Arguments are made defending animals and suggesting that they should be protected and recognized in human society. Medical researchers are scrutinized and harassed by these supporters for their part in animal testing and medical investigation. Scientific breakthroughs have been made, which has transformed the development of modern medicine. Lifespans have elongated and lives are being saved in every corner of the world, yet somehow, this is still debated as if it is the wrong thing to do. Research animals are pertinent tools of the medical world and humans are entitled to use them as such. As human beings with
basic fundamental rights, we have the authority to use animals to further medical research. Humans are superior to animals intellectually, animals do not have to live by any moral or legal laws, they use tools to live just as humans do and medical research betters both human and animal lives and as a result, they should be used as necessary in medical research. Medical research has proven to be both beneficial to human and animal lives.
Random-source animals have been greatly used where genetic diversity is important to the study. A “random-source” animal, is one that was purchased from random sources such as animal shelters. In Research Animals, it writes, “…random-source animals are primarily used in biomedical research on arthritis, blindness, birth defects, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hearing loss, lung disorders, and orthopedics” (“Research Animals”). These animals are helping to further the development in knowledge and cures for these disabilities and diseases. Cures do not just appear, they take many years to research and strategize before they are taken to the lab to be tested. Animals are the ideal test subjects and are also educational tools in the medical world. Research Animals also writes, “Live animals are used in modern medical research because some of their bodily systems mimic those of humans. This makes them useful test subjects for drugs, vaccines, and other products that are intended for humans. They are also useful training tools for doctors, surgeons, and veterinarians, who need to practice medical procedures” (“Research Animals”). Without the testing, drugs and other products could have very different effects on humans when first introduced. Also, medical students would not have as much hands-on experience before walking into their first operation or other medical procedure. Animals also
benefit from these advancements. There are many diseases are common among different species, such as cancer or cardiovascular disease. With further explorations, it betters the chances of stopping all horrible diseases amongst all lives. Animal use in medical research plays an important part in furthering modern medicine and enhancing the lives of both humans and animals.