Any views on the benefits of animal testing ( homework for son) !!?

Answer 1

Animal Testing (argument for)

There is no alternative

Every day, thousands of people are saved from painful diseases and death by powerful medical drugs and treatments. This incredible gift of medicine would not be possible without animal testing. Despite these overwhelming benefits, however, some people are calling for animal testing to be banned because of alleged cruelty. This essay will examine arguments for and against animal testing.

Those against the use of animal testing claim that it is inhumane to use animals in experiments. I disagree completely. It would be much more inhumane to test new drugs on children or adults. Even if it were possible, it would also take much longer to see potential effects, because of the length of time we live compared to laboratory animals such as rats or rabbits.

Opponents of animal testing also claim that the results are not applicable to humans. This may be partly true. Some drugs have had to be withdrawn, despite testing. However, we simply do not have alternative methods of testing. Computer models are not advanced enough, and testing on plants is much less applicable to humans than tests on animals such as monkeys. Until we have a better system, we must use animal testing.

A further point often raised against animal testing is that it is cruel. Some of the tests certainly seem painful, but the great majority of people on this planet eat meat or wear leather without any guilt. Where is their sympathy for animals? Furthermore, animals clearly do not feel the same way as humans, and scientists are careful to minimize stress in the animals, since this would damage their research.

I agree that we need to make sure that animals who are used for testing new products have the minimum of suffering. However, I am convinced that animal testing is necessary, and that it will continue to benefit humans in new and wonderful ways.

311 words

Animal testing is morally wrong

by Kate Teasdale

Animal testingAnimal testing is cruel and inhuman! It is morally wrong to torture animals for our own benefit. Over 3 million animals have been tormented all in the name of research. It has been found that only 5-25% of side effects caused by medicines are accurately predicted. This leads me to wonder what is actually being gained by animal experimentation?

Everyday a human being will talk about his or her rights. If a person feels their rights have been taken away from them they will fight back. Therefore is it not hypercritical for humans -who are generally obsessed with their own rights- to torment and kill, innocent and defenseless animals? Why shouldn't animals recieve the same rights as humans?

Hundreds of animals die daily for scientific research. People seem to find this acceptable and turn a blind eye, but if the same number of humans were to die at the same time, wouldn't it be considered tragic? It can argued that animal experimentation can be beneficial and has helped find cures for some diseases. However the number of successes are very small. This could be due to differences between species, or due to the fact that these illnesses have been placed in the animals deliberatly.
Humans don't catch diseases in this way! Therefore would it not be more logical to use alternatives such as laboratory tests or computer simulators? These will do the job without any slaughter of innocent animals and it will stop inaccuracies caused by differences between species.

So why are animals used when the more logical solution would be to use alternative methods? the answer is simple - money. Animal experimantation is much cheaper - and what is the cruel destruction of animals compared to a pile of cash?

Imagine if this were happening to your own pets, to your cat or dog. Is the scientific benefits still the top priority?

What would happen if I were to deliberatley give another human a fatal disease, if i were to electrocute, shoot or poison them? This would be considered immorally wrong and I would be labeled as a psycho, and I would most certainly be jailed for it. Yet scientists can do this on a daily basis and no one thinks twice. Are these scientist labeled in this way? No - if they do manage to get lucky and create something beneficial from the torture, then they are seen as heroes.

We need to put an end to this cruelty, in the end what is more important, money or life?

For more information check out these websites:

http://www.frame.org.uk
http://www.uncaged.co.uk

Kate Teasdale

Answer 2

I don't actually have any strong views about animal testing.
I believe that if rats had evolved an opposable thumb and learnt not to - out eat their food source, then they would rule the world and do drugs testing on us.

That said, I do not see any benifits from animal testing. There are plenty enough people in the world who, for enough money, are preparred to risk their life and allow drugs to be tested on them. Britain has a record in this field, during the fifties and sixties the govenment ran a Cold Research Laboratory where people we paid to go there and catch a cold and try various cures for it.

Answer 3

I am really against animal abuse but I don't see how what his son did should reflect on Huckabee as a person or a president. Even if he did cover it up (the media does lie, you know) he was doing what most parents do, protecting his mentally ill son. If you had a child who was mentally ill, I think that you would feel the same way. And just so you know, Huckabee is one of the only candidates who shows some grace and respect for the other candidates. He has never ran a smear campaign against any of them.

Answer 4

I don't think there is a benefit of animal testing. As far as his paper goes: Animal testing allows scientists to predict what the effects of a product/medicine/treatment would be on people. There are certain animals that have similar biological systems that humans have and can help them to accurately predict the outcomes. It pleases people (not me) who are against testing on humans.

I think it would be much better to test on people who are spending life in prison or are on death row. Especially those who killed, raped, molested, or those who abused animals. That way, not only would you save the lives of countless animals, but the results would be very useful and you know what exactly would happen. Course this would not be a good topic for your son to write about! :-P

Answer 5

“Animal research has played a critical role in every major medical advance of the last century” for both human and animal health. From antibiotics to blood transfusions, from dialysis to organ transplantation, from vaccinations to chemotherapy, practically every protocol for the treatment and cure is based on knowledge attained through animal research.

Answer 6

I have an idea.... why don't they stop testing on poor animals and start testing on prisoners that have committed evil acts, such as rapists, paedophiles, murderers etc ..... well that's my view anyway

Answer 7

If there is no more animal testing then what do they test on? Human?
Robot?

Answer 8

See this link:

http://www.hsus.org/animals_in_research/animal_testing/

it's easier to see the results.

But there aren;t any benefits for the animal...