vivisection
Animal Research and Testing, Is it Ethical?
“It is a simple fact that many, if not most, of today’s modern medical miracles would not exist if experimental animals had not been available to medical scientists. It is equally a fact that, should we as a society decide the use of animal subjects is ethically unacceptable and therefore must be stopped, medical progress will slow to a snail’s pace. Such retardation will in itself have a huge ethical ‘price tag’ in terms of continued human and animal suffering from problems such as diabetes, cancer, degenerative cardiovascular diseases, and so forth.”
Dr. Simmonds, a veterinarian who specializes in the care of laboratory animals, is one of many who believe that animal testing is an ethical practice. He and many others see the testing as inevitable and say it must continue to help humans survive. “The elimination of horrible disease, the increase of longevity, the avoidance of great pain, the saving of lives, and the improvement of the quality of lives achieved through research using animals is so incalculably great…”(Cohen 27-28).
As in any debate though there is always an opposing side, which seems to toss out their opinions and facts as frequently as the rest. So many in today’s world view animal research as morally wrong and believe animals do have rights. Peter Singer, an author and philosophy professor, “argues that because animals have nervous systems and can suffer just as much as humans can, it is wrong for humans to use animals for research, food, or clothing” (Singer 17). Do animals have any rights? Is animal experimentation ethical? These are questions many struggle with day in and day out in the ongoing battle surrounding the controversial topic of animal research and testing, known as vivisection.
Throughout centuries medical research has been conducted on animals. “Animals were used in early studies to discover how blood circulates through the body, the effect of anesthesia, and the relationship between bacteria and disease” (AMA 59). Experiments such as these seem to be outdated and actually are by today’s means, scientists now study commonly for three general purposes: (1) biomedical and behavioral research, (2) education, (3) drug and product testing (AMA 60). These three types of experiments allow scientists to gain vast amounts of knowledge about human b...
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The information that animals have provided scientists over the past decades has changed society, and is still changing society for the better. Millions of lives have been saved with the use of animal testing and many more will be saved with continued research. However, there are many who dismiss this monumental achievement completely and oppose the use of animals in laboratory research. Though many find this practice to be
Imagine a puppy spending his entire life in a locked cage where he is deprived of food and water, and force-fed chemicals from time to time. This is the life of animals in a laboratory. Live-animal experimentation, also known as vivisection, is not only unethical, but also cruel and unnecessary. In the article “Vivisection is Right, but it is Nasty- and We must be Brave Enough to Admit This”, Michael Hanlon claims vivisection is a moral necessity that without the use of animals in the laboratory, humans would not have modern medicine like antibiotics, analgesic, and cancer drugs (1). For example, Hanlon believes sewing kittens’ eyelids together can aid researchers to study the effects of amblyopia in children (1). Conversely, the use of animals
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18th, 1918 in Mvezo, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He is best known for his fight against apartheid and becoming the first black President of South Africa. Mandela was born into the Thembu people and was motivated to study law after experiencing the tribal democratic leadership. He joined the African National Congress in 1942 and participated in the organization of a many protests against apartheid. In 1952 “Mandela and Oliver Tambo started the first black law office in South Africa with the intent of fighting black injustice (Saunders, World Book 133)”. Mandela was arrested in 1962 and given a life sentence for charges for conspiring against the government. He was released in 1990 after serving 27 years. In 1993 he received the Nobel Peace Prize along with F. W. de Klerk for their contribution towards ending of apartheid and establishing multiracial elections. He was elected the first black President of South Africa in 1994. While in power he focused on fighting racism, inequality, and poverty in South Africa. Mandela retired his presidency in 1999 and made his last public appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final. Nelson Mandela died December 5th, 2013 in Johannesburg. Throughout his early life, his imprisonment, and his presidency, Nelson Mandela always stood for change.
Animals have always held a very special place in the hearts of the human race. They are our best friends, our stress relievers, members of our families, and our test subjects for experimentation. For hundreds of years, animals have been used in laboratory settings as a replacement for humans when studying the effects of medical treatments. On average, nearly one hundred million animals are used in clinical trials every year (Ferdowsian). These animals have contributed to hundreds of breakthroughs in the medical field including countless toxicity tests to determine drug toxicity to humans, and exposure to paralyzing anesthetics to create anesthesia used in surgical procedures today. These animals have been vital
The medical model defines disability as “any restriction or lack of ability (resulting from an impairment of an individual) to perform an activi...
Activist, lawyer, father, prisoner, survivor, president, the face of equality. Nelson Mandela has an inspiring story of fighting Apartheid forces and surviving a long prison sentence all in the name of freedom and equal rights. Through Nelson Mandela’s constant fight for freedom of the African people from white apartheid forces, he was dominated by the corrupt government. After uprising numerous riots against apartheid forces, Mandela was sent to jail for twenty-seven years revealing the cruelty that humans can possess. With the strong will power and complete support of the African people, Mandela survived his prison sentence and became the first democratically elected president of South Africa exposing the strength in human nature by showing that humans can persevere through tough times. Mandela left a profound impact on the African people by saving them from corrupt Apartheid rule and bringing a democratic government. Thus teaching the world that in an event where a body of people is suppressed, they will inevitably rebel by any means necessary to gain their freedom.
Such as his political work in South Africa and his help in the anti-apartheid movement. Nelson Mandela will mainly be remembered for his work with anti-apartheid. Helping the people of today be equal no matter what skin color they are. After the national party in South Africa gained power, the entirely white government immediately began enforcing existing policies of racial segregation under a system of legislation that is called apartheid. In 1961, Mandela became the leader of the ANC’s armed wing, Umkhonto We Sizwe, which he co-founded. He co-ordinated a sabotage campaign against military and government targets, and made plans for a possible guerilla war if sabotage failed to end apartheid (truth-out.org). Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for his beliefs, on August 5 1962. After being on the run for 17 months and was put in the Johannesburg fort (truth-out.org). He spent 27 full years in prison and his spirit was never broken. After all his time in prison, as soon as he got out he started to help the anti-apartheid movement. Nowadays people are walking freely together no matter what skin color they have. It only depends on their personality on how we treat them. With all of Mandela 's works and achievements, the world would not be the
Tom Regan, “The Case for Animal Rights,” in In Defense of Animals, ed. Peter Singer (Oxford:
The World Health Organisation, WHO, (1980) defines disability in the medical model as a physical or mental impairment that restricts participation in an activity that a ‘normal’ human being would partake, due to a lack of ability to perform the task . Michigan Disability Rights Coalition (n.d.) states that the medical model emphasizes that there is a problem regarding the abilities of the individual. They argue that the condition of the disabled persons is solely ‘medical’ and as a result the focus is to cure and provide treatment to disabled people (Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, 2014). In the medical model, issues of disability are dealt with according to defined government structures and policies and are seen as a separate issue from ordinary communal concerns (Emmet, 2005: 69). According to Enabling Teachers and Trainers to Improve the Accessibility of Adult Education (2008) people with disabilities largely disa...
Nelson Mandela spent the majority of his young life fighting to end the system of apartheid. He traveled throughout to gain support and organize nonviolent protests against apartheid. At the age of 34, he toured the country encouraging people to take part in civil disobedience. Mandela helped lead the African National Congress across South Africa to organize peaceful protests against discriminatory policies (“Mandela, Nelson”). He illegally left South Africa in 1962 to gain more support for the anti-apartheid movement. Mandela went to Ethiopia to attend a conference of African nationalist leaders. He also went England to ask for armed support and to Algeria to undergo guerilla training (“Nelson Mandela”). Ultimately, Mr. Mandela, was arrested in South Africa for illegally leaving the country. He became one of South Africa’s most wanted men for threatening the system of apartheid.
Disability: Any person who has a mental or physical deterioration that initially limits one or more major everyday life activities. Millions of people all over the world, are faced with discrimination, the con of being unprotected by the law, and are not able to participate in the human rights everyone is meant to have. For hundreds of years, humans with disabilities are constantly referred to as different, retarded, or weird. They have been stripped of their basic human rights; born free and are equal in dignity and rights, have the right to life, shall not be a victim of torture or cruelty, right to own property, free in opinion and expression, freedom of taking part in government, right in general education, and right of employment opportunities. Once the 20th century
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Nelson Mandela is a renowned African leader and is known for advocating love, peace and unity. Nelson was keen for transforming a model of racial separation and oppression into an open democracy. In his time, Nelson served a significant role as former president of South Africa during the Apartheid era. Before he became a hero, he underwent overwhelming obstacles. Nelson spent 27 years in prison not for a murder or act of genocide he committed, but for standing up to his political beliefs and for fighting for the rights of his own people. Nelson Mandela is unquestionably one of the most prominent heroes to millions of people around the world and in particularly the black people of South Africa. Further, his integrity is highly regarded even by the whites. Eddie Daniels, South African Liberal Party, states that “Mr. Mandela is a good man, he can walk with kings and he can walk with beggars.”
Nelson Mandela was a social activist and a very influential leader in South Africa, who fought courageously for the abolishment of apartheid will forever be remembered in world history. He was a respected, pragmatic problem solver who was a global advocate for human rights. Mandela was a member of the African National Congress (ANC) party that was formed in the 1940s, and he was a leader of both the peaceful protests and the armed resistance against the white minority’s oppressive regime in the racially divided South Africa. His actions landed him in prison for nearly three decades and made him the face of the antiapartheid movement both within his country and around the world.
Animals are used in research to develop new medicines and for scientists to test the safety of the medicines. This animal testing is called vivisection. Research is being carried out at universities, medical schools and even in primary and elementary schools as well as in commercial facilities which provide animal experiments to industry. (UK Parliament) In addition, animals are also used in cosmetic testing, toxicology tests, “defense research” and “xenotransplantation”. All around the world, a huge amount of animals are sentenced to life in a laboratory cage and they are obliged to feel loneliness and pain. In addition scientists causing pain, most drugs that pas successfully in animals fail in humans. It is qualified as a bad science. Above all, animals have rights not to be harmed even though the Animal Welfare Act does not provide them even with minimal protection. The law does not find it necessary to use current alternatives to animals, even if they are obtainable. Animal testing should be banned due to animal rights, ethical issues, alternative ways and the unreliability of test results in humans.
Nelson Mandela is known as one of the most world peace fighting and most respected people in history. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election in 1994. He was born 18 July 1918 in South Africa. Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela served 28 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island. He was released on February, 11th in 1990. Nelson Mandela is a great factor of why the Apartheid system fell.(Encyclopedia, 1997)