Ethics:Animal Testing
Introduction
The 21st century world has greatly advanced in all realms thanks to immense research that has produced inventions and innovations that have made planet earth a better habitable place. However, in the realm of biological research, an ethical public discourse has ensued over the use of animal testing by pharmaceutical companies, universities, farms, medical schools, defense departments, and commercial establishments among other institutions (Jones, 2013). In this case, animal testing refers to the utilization of invertebrates and non-human vertebrates as test objects for products destined for human use. For example, animal testing can be used to evaluate safety and potency of medical treatments and toxicity of products among other uses (Jones, 2013). Although there seems to be divergent views held by animal activists on one side and scientific realm on the other, there is a need to find a solution to the problem. This paper aims to critically evaluate the ethical debate on animal testing highlighting the possible solution to this debacle.
Definition of the Ethical Issue
Scientific research has for long relied on non-human animals like mice, non-human primates, frogs, rats, birds and fish among others for the purposes of being the study subjects or testing products made by scientists (Sun, 2012). As a result, there has arisen a catastrophic massacre of animals in laboratories, some of which face painful and agonizing death. According to Hajar (2011), an approximately fifty to one hundred million vertebrates are used and killed in experiments annually across the globe, a realization that makes humans seem like an extermination species engaging in an all time holocaust on animals. Sprouting from the basic principle of humane treatment of all animals, the mistreatment of animals in laboratories and other test studies has raised many ethical concerns (Engster, 2006). Moreover, the massive killing akin to a holocaust has raised ethical questions on the
The 21st century world has greatly advanced in all realms thanks to immense research that has produced inventions and innovations that have made planet earth a better habitable place. However, in the realm of biological research, an ethical public discourse has ensued over the use of animal testing by pharmaceutical companies, universities, farms, medical schools, defense departments, and commercial establishments among other institutions (Jones, 2013). In this case, animal testing refers to the utilization of invertebrates and non-human vertebrates as test objects for products destined for human use. For example, animal testing can be used to evaluate safety and potency of medical treatments and toxicity of products among other uses (Jones, 2013). Although there seems to be divergent views held by animal activists on one side and scientific realm on the other, there is a need to find a solution to the problem. This paper aims to critically evaluate the ethical debate on animal testing highlighting the possible solution to this debacle.
Definition of the Ethical Issue
Scientific research has for long relied on non-human animals like mice, non-human primates, frogs, rats, birds and fish among others for the purposes of being the study subjects or testing products made by scientists (Sun, 2012). As a result, there has arisen a catastrophic massacre of animals in laboratories, some of which face painful and agonizing death. According to Hajar (2011), an approximately fifty to one hundred million vertebrates are used and killed in experiments annually across the globe, a realization that makes humans seem like an extermination species engaging in an all time holocaust on animals. Sprouting from the basic principle of humane treatment of all animals, the mistreatment of animals in laboratories and other test studies has raised many ethical concerns (Engster, 2006). Moreover, the massive killing akin to a holocaust has raised ethical questions on the