Physiological Psychology

Animals in Research : Ethical Issues

Animals in Research : Ethical Issues

Introduction

Scientific quest for knowledge and animal experimentation has been inexorably tied to each other both in popular imagination and human history (Bishop Nolen , 2001 . The use of animals in scientific research has resulted to spectacular innovations in the field of medicine and understanding of animal , including human , physiology . Many medicinal technologies were developed that are now used to treat illnesses that were once causing heavy death toll . However , different individuals and communities had different responses to the use of

br animals in research . This led to debates and protests of individuals and organizations with concerns on ethics and animal rights . Is the use of animals as research subjects ethical

Scientific Perspective

To answer our question , let us first look into the scientific perspective of the issue . According to Bishop and Nolen (2001 , there are approximately 35 million animals used in scientific research worldwide in an annual basis . Approximately 10 to 17 million animals are killed in American laboratories alone (Walshaw , Ethical Issues in Animal Research . The animals used in laboratory researches include mice , rats , rabbits , guinea pigs , pigs , dogs , sheep , primates , and cats In the United States , rats , mice , and birds comprise about 90-95 of the Scientific Procedures : Regulation in the USA

Why are animals needed in research ? There are four reasons why scientists use animals in research ( Why Are Animals Need in Research . The first reason is that humans and some animals are similar in physiology and anatomy . Scientists prefer to use animals as tests subjects rather than humans in their preliminary research . The second reason , certain strands of animals are infected with the same illnesses or conditions as humans . These animals are referred to as Animal Models ' and are studied to understand the nature of the disease and hopefully provide appropriate treatment . The third reason lies in the principles of research , which is to introduce one variable and observe its results on the system studied . It is easier to control the environment (i .e . temperature , humidity ) of animals in the laboratory and prevent any intrusions of disease-causing bacteria and viruses that will cause diseases not related to research , which in common sense , controlling their health . Humans have different life styles that affect their health thus making it difficult to use them as test subjects . The fourth reason pertains to the test for validity of the results obtained from the research . This means test for statistics i .e . testing a number of animals before coming up with the outright conclusion . In humans , this test is difficult to perform since they have different cases . As a result , data obtained from one case is no longer a research and the results may not apply to the whole population

Now that we have identified the four reasons why animals are needed in research , let us now identify the different issues related to animal rights and ethical issues in research with animals

Regulations and Animal Safety Standards

The Public Health Service Guide for...