Animal Research A Necessary Evil Or Just Evil?

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Is experimenting on animals cruel and unethical, or is it a necessary evil? Those against, argue that animal research is unreliable, archaic and a waste of money. There are many activist that lobby to make animal research illegal. I disagree with making animal research illegal. I agree that we have come a long way with technology, and technology has offered many alternatives to animal research but unfortunately, there are still some circumstances where animal testing is necessary. If we stop using animals in research, we are limiting our ability to fight disease, and ultimately endangering ourselves. Animal testing is necessary for our safety. Scientist need to investigate whether a drug is safe for human ingestion and also whether the drug is effective. No animal testing was done on a drug called Elixir Sulfanilamide (Hajar). This drug was responsible for "mass poisoning causing the deaths of more than a hundred people" (Hajar). This event and other similar tragedies led to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act mandating animal testing as a requirement before human testing (Hajar). Dr. Rachel Hajar author of "Animal Testing and Medicine" stated" [t]he above-mentioned incidents and others illustrate the harm to humans from the use of substances that have not been first tested on animals and underline the importance of animal experimentation to avert or prevent human tragedy." Animals make better test subject than humans because they "have a shorter life cycle than humans", and as a result, they can be studied throughout their whole life span or across several generations" (CBRA). Another valid point to make is that with human testing it is extremely difficult for scientist to manage all of the variables that co... ... middle of paper ... ...mal Research: How It Benefits Both Humans and Animals." It's about pets. California Veterinary Medical Association, 2005. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. CBRA. "Why Are Animals Necessary in Biomedical Research?" Ca-biomed.org. CBRA, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. . England, Rich. "Would Drugs Be Safe For Us Without First Being Tested On Animals?" Safer Medicines. Safer Medicines, 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. Hajar, Rachel. " Animal Testing and Medicine." Heart Views 12.1 (2011) : 42. NCBI. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. . Parry, Vivienne. "What Have Guinea Pigs Ever Done For Us?" Guardian Newspaper. Guardian Newspaper, 1 Sept. 2005. Speaking Of Research. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.

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