Animal Testing Essay

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Recommended: The use of animals in medical research is a necessary evil

The use of animals in medical research began in the early years of physicians such as Aristotle (384-322 BC), Erasistratus (304-258 BC) and Galen (129-199/217 AD). These physicians performed experiments on animals to understand things such as anatomy and physiology. An experimental method for testing surgical procedures was introduced by Ibn Zuhr, an Arab physician; surgical procedures were carried out on animals before it was applied to human patients. Animal testing in medical research continues as there is still a necessity for it in medical advancements. Even though technology has increased drastically, animal testing still seems like one of the most efficient resources to gather information from. There are many positive and negative outcomes from using animals as experiments in medical research. This allows for scientists to have a better understanding of the way the human body functions and the effects drugs may have on humans. Animal testing broadens possibilities of finding cures for illnesses and diseases. What many scientists do not realise is that the effect of a certain drug may differ on animals and humans. Animals that are used to test the drug on may be prone to suffering and torture. “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” - Mahatma Ghandi This quote makes one wonder whether or not animals are being treated correctly when used as test subjects. If countries abide by the laws and regulations of using animals in research, it is acceptable to use animals in research. Findings and Conclusion The positives of using animals in medicine The use of Animals in medicine is considered to be one of the most important things for the advancement in medical rese... ... middle of paper ... ...arm animals. The simple answer to the use of animals for research is that humans strive to improve. Using animals for research has its perks but as shown in the past there have been many discoveries and contributions to medicine. Conclusion Animal testing has a beneficial role in the development of medical research. Although there are many negatives of animal testing, the positives outweigh the negatives. The issue of animal cruelty will always be questioned and has therefore led to the 3R’s campaign. The 3R’s campaign advocates (1) the replacement of animals with non-living models; (2) reduction in the use of animals; and (3) refinement of animal use in practises. Animal testing is both practically and reasonably accurate. There is a fine line between the ethical value and practical values of using animals in research, thus it becomes subjective to each person.

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