The Good, the Bad and Ugly of Animal Experimentation
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Exploratory Paper
Professor
English
26 March 2012
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Animal Experimentation
Animal experimentation plays an important role in today’s medical and pharmaceutical advances, but many question the morality of such a use of animal life. Whether one argues that testing different products and drugs on animals is necessary or not, this has become an integral part of developing products. From that Tylenol we pop to get rid of our headache to that perfect shade of pink lip gloss, animal testing is used in order to produce the simplest household items. Today, in the United States, it is federal law that requires all pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics, and garden chemicals to undergo a series of tests including animal testing, before being available to the general public. It is estimated that between fifty and a hundred million vertebrate animals worldwide are being used for animal experiments. While many believe that animal experimentation is a crucial part of research and product safety, others argue the morality of this issue. Another point of view some share is a mixture of both opposing views, where one believes that animal experimentation should only be condoned in the field of medical research but not for the production of personal care or superficial items.
Those for animal experimentation view it as a fundamental part of innovation and believe that this will help not only biomedical research and technology, but surgical advancements as well. Ninety-five percent of animals being used for experimentation are mice and rats, and the other five consist mainly of guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, dogs, and non-human primates. Within the United States, animals used in testing are protected by the Animal Welfare Act of 1966. This law states that animals used in testing be housed properly, given veterinarian care, and be relieved of their pain, or kept to a minimum if it is necessary. Animals have shorter life spans than
Exploratory Paper
Professor
English
26 March 2012
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Animal Experimentation
Animal experimentation plays an important role in today’s medical and pharmaceutical advances, but many question the morality of such a use of animal life. Whether one argues that testing different products and drugs on animals is necessary or not, this has become an integral part of developing products. From that Tylenol we pop to get rid of our headache to that perfect shade of pink lip gloss, animal testing is used in order to produce the simplest household items. Today, in the United States, it is federal law that requires all pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics, and garden chemicals to undergo a series of tests including animal testing, before being available to the general public. It is estimated that between fifty and a hundred million vertebrate animals worldwide are being used for animal experiments. While many believe that animal experimentation is a crucial part of research and product safety, others argue the morality of this issue. Another point of view some share is a mixture of both opposing views, where one believes that animal experimentation should only be condoned in the field of medical research but not for the production of personal care or superficial items.
Those for animal experimentation view it as a fundamental part of innovation and believe that this will help not only biomedical research and technology, but surgical advancements as well. Ninety-five percent of animals being used for experimentation are mice and rats, and the other five consist mainly of guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, dogs, and non-human primates. Within the United States, animals used in testing are protected by the Animal Welfare Act of 1966. This law states that animals used in testing be housed properly, given veterinarian care, and be relieved of their pain, or kept to a minimum if it is necessary. Animals have shorter life spans than
Cited: Banks, Murray. "Animal Rights Quotes, Sayings about Animal Welfare, Cruelty, Compassion." The Quote Garden. Terri Guillemets, 18 Mar. 1998. Web. 24 Mar. 2012. <http://www.quotegarden.com/a-rights.html>. Driscoll, Sally, and Laura Finley. "Animal Experimentation: An Overview." Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO, 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2012. George, Patricia, and Geraldine Wagner. "Medical Experiments on Animals Are an Important Element of Drug Development." Canadian Points of View Reference Centre. EBSCO, 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. Wolff, Jonathan. “Pro and Con Positions Oversimplify Animal Experimentation Issues.” Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Gale, 2009. “Killing Softly” Guardian. 28 Mar. 2006. Web. 20 Feb. 2012. Wright, George, and Steve Hoagland. "Animal Testing Is Cruel and Immoral Regardless of the Benefits Associated With It." Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO, 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.