A serious question for vegetarians/vegans...?

Question

Yes, we all know that I can't help smirking at vegetarians & vegans, but I was wondering about antibiotic use.

Would you use an antibiotic in a non-life-threatening situation? Would you wait until the condition WAS life-threatening? Would you take your doctor's word for it? What would yo do?

(note to the slow: antibiotics kill bacteria, which are living creatures)

REVA: No, really, I'm serious. I know that many vegans really split hairs (not wearing silk, for example), and I simply wondered if such folks would use antibiotics.

I'm grateful for the many thoughtful answers here; I'm always glad to learn new things. Thank you, all!

Answer 1

I don't use antibiotics in a non-life threatening situation because, I don't feel it necessary, ans I use natural methods. If the situation was life threatening I would take the medicine.
It seems you think we care about killing bacteria. This is false. Your body kills foreign Bactria with or without an antibiotic. Our issue with taking medication is because it was tested on animals, not because it will kill a microbe.

Answer 2

I don't like to eat meat. I'm not really a fan of the taste, but I don't like knowing where it comes from. I'm only a vegetarian, not a vegan, so I still eat eggs, cream, cheese, milk ect. I just don't eat meat - no matter where it comes from an animal would still have died so that I could eat and I just don't like knowing that. It's a personal choice, I completely understand if people want to eat meat, it just doesn't appeal to me. In regards to the "free-range" thing, I lived on a free range chicken farm for over a year. The conditions were fine, but in AUS, the "free range" chickens don't actually NEED to go outside and they aren't kept outside very long (unless they are registered with the RSPCA, in which case they need to go outside 12 hours a day each day, but few farms are registered with them). When the weather is cold or there are predators around, the birds are kept inside - so in the winter they may never be let outside. Btw, did you know it's actually the food that changes the color of their meat? Interesting fact, I thought. You're right, it would send a statement if everyone were to buy free range meat or eggs ect. I just have no desire to eat meat =)

Answer 3

Perhaps you want to focus your question to those who actually follow such strict rule (as going for peace silk) for vegetarianism?

Personally, I draw the line at nervous system. A creature with a nervous system can feel pain. Therefore, while I can survive and thrive without killing that creature, I will. It's a pretty simple form of vegetarianism, but I have followed that for the last 15 years now.

Antibiotics - haven't had any yet. Even if I had to, bacteria don't feel pain.

Answer 4

This is not a dumb question, I know where you going with this. I am not a vegi myself and I find it silly when some one says they don't eat meat because they don't like to kill cows. I mean..the cow is ALREADY DEAD, it will either be eaten by some one else or it will rot. And some become vegetarians for health, well that I can accept, especially patients who are recovering from food poisoning. But let me tell you that the decision to be a vegetarian can be a dumb decision all in a person weak mind, however some do have the right idea of it. Not eating chicken because you do not support what companies do to them isn't good enough, if you really care you wouldn't just "not buy poultry" you'd get off your lazy butt and do something about it you lazy vegi. But when some one says, I don't like to eat something that has being artificially fertilized without a head and a beak and full of preservatives...that's an acceptable answer, I wouldn't find a chicken without a head cooped up in a cage waiting to be slaughtered apeticing either IF I was a wuss..oops! I mean uhh, easy to upset. So not all vegeterians become veggi heads because they disagree with the killing of animals, they just disagree with the WAY they are killed, or how they are treated, or how they are raised (man-made harvest can be disgusting) , so not all vegetarians are silly weak minded wussies, some do have a point, some are just on a healthier less fatty diet, it's just a question of where to find the silly ones to laugh at.

Answer 5

I have never heard of a vegetarian or vegan who wouldn't take antibiotics. Yes, they kill bacteria and bacteria are living creatures. Vegetables are also living creatures and I chow down on them regularly. Dust mites are living creatures. Athlete's foot is a living creature. I think you are taking things just a bit far. Just because I don't eat meat does not mean I want to die of a flesh-eating bacteria.

Answer 6

First, vegetarian food helps to improve immune system, so probably you wouldn't need antibiotics.
Second, if situation is not life threatening, I'd better use natural methods (water procedures are very helpful).
If situation is really serious, I'd take whatever doctor tells me.
BTW, a lot of vegetarians/vegans do not eat meat for health reasons, not for ethical reasons.

Answer 7

i actually went raw,, and once a year i get this sinus infection that really messes me up(swells my face up,, moves my teeth(very painful)) and it usually lasts about two weeks with the use of antibiotics,, after going raw,, it lasted 3 days and didnt hurt a bit,, no antibiotics,, i think living in a chemical world,, people depend on chemicals to fight the problems caused by other chemicals,, i also think that antibiotics dont really hurt animals,, so half the vegetarian world probably doesnt care about using them

Answer 8

Yes, I would.

I don't care that animals are dying in factory farms, I'm against how they are treated when they are alive. Honestly, them dying is probably the highlight of their dreary life. Bacteria don't live in factory farms and aren't treated badly. I honestly doubt that a one-celled critter has any feelings either.

Answer 9

Bacteria, while it is technically alive, isn't considered to be a sentient being. Just like plants.. they are alive but they aren't conscious.. they can't feel pain or anything.

That said, I do tend to avoid using medicine in general because it has been tested on animals. I may be sick, but it's not worth the relentless torture of non-human animals.

Answer 10

Uh... I can't believe you're seriously asking this. Vegetarianism/veganism is about animals, not "living creatures" that are invisible to the naked eye.