The Ethical Question of Animal Testing - Essay Example

Focus Group: Animal Testing Task Focus Group: Animal Testing Animal testing is a common practice in the modern day society. Most biological experiments, as well as, other chemical tests make use of small animals to test the results of their products. In most cases, the use of animals is to determine the level of toxicity of the products of chemical compounds created. In addition, it also helps to determine the effect of the developed compounds or chemicals on the health of human beings. Bearing this is mind; a biological test that reports positive results on a test has a high likelihood of working properly in human beings. In fact, scientists who come up with different cures of different drugs that treat and cure major illnesses in the world today, tested the vaccine or treatment on some animal first before administering it on a human being. Animal testing involves a number of animals, most especially rodents such as mice and rats. However, some animal tests also occur on bigger animals such as monkeys, baboons, as well as chimpanzee (Lowe, 2010). Much as animal testing brings about cure to some of the world’s toughest infections, it is inhumane because it does not consider the welfare of the animals used. In fact, animal testing completely disregards the rights of animals their lives or the effect of the chemical and biological test carried out on them. This is especially considering that the researchers or scientists do not get any consent from the animals to use them as lab rats for their chemical and biological tests, them kill or dispose them once they are through with their experiments. As such, these activities are in total disregard of the rights and privileges of the animals. Introduction Animal testing did not begin yesterday. This practice evolved over the ages to whereby animals played an important role in the developments in major fields of science and technology. As such, this practice spread and diversified over the years to incorporate major fields of science, technology, defense, pharmaceuticals, farming, as well as, engineering. In addition, the animal testing programs include pure research practices on a number of programs such as behavioral studies, genetics, applied research, and developmental biology. Some of the specific topics under investigation in applied research include toxicology tests, xenotransplanatation, drug testing and biomedical research. The current modern statistics of animal testing incorporate the wide spread execution of the practice across all corners of the world. In some countries, the governments put in place specific measures to safeguard the animals used in these experiments, while in some countries there is literally no control (Lowe, 2010). For instance, in the United States, over 100 million animals used in lab experiments end up crippled, abused, burned, or poisoned. Furthermore, a larger percentage of the experimental drugs that test effective and safe for human use in animals rarely rise to the occasion as nearly 92% of them fail. In a bid to protect the rights of animals, the US government established the Animals Welfare Act that oversees the activities of lab tests on animals, and ensures that these animals do not suffer any physical or bodily harm due to their involuntary participation in this practice. These laboratories make several types of animal testing, which include eye irritancy, acute toxicity, repeated dose toxicity, skin irritation or corrosivity, skin sensitization, metabolism and toxicokinetics or pharmacokinetics, mutagenicity, dermal penetration, carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, ecotoxicity, and pyrogenicity. Methods: Participants and Procedures This research incorporated results from different laboratories across the country, as well as, from rehabilitation centers of animals which were once ‘lab rats’, or used for testing across various fields. It considered the way researchers and scientists selected animals in the field for use in their trials and lab experiments, to the various types of experiments and test that these animals undergo once selected for these trials, and the effect of these tests and trials on animals, especially on their health, physical well being, as well as, emotional disturbance. For instance, do they address the topic of reproductive health after the animals return to their normal lives? In addition, the research considers the actions that these labs take on animals that are no longer use for lab experiments and tests. Do they kill these animals, or throw them away into the bush, especially for those that survive all these tests? Another question is the danger posed by these animals to other animals, or human beings after their release back into the free world (Lowe, 2010). Analysis/Results The results of the research showed massive abuse of animals and of their rights while under the custody of these laboratories. In the first place, the animals do not give consent to take part in these lab tests, and as such, the action of forcing them to take part in this experiments is in total violation of their rights and privileges as animals. Many animals died while undergoing experiments in these laboratories, most burned while other succumbed to the toxic effects of the chemical tests carried out on them. In addition, the animals that survived these test did not get fair treatment either, especially considering the great service they offered to the scientists. Apart from genetic and bodily deformities that they acquire while undergoing these tests, the animals do not get a warm welcome back into their ordinary community Synthesis and Evaluation/Discussion It is evident from the results of the research that the opinion of these animals does not matter while undertaking these experiments. The only goal of these researchers and scientists is to achieve their breakthrough in medicine or science all at the expense of the life and health of animals used during the experiments. As such, it is proper to consider the termination of animal tests because it is inhuman and in total disregard of the rights and welfare of these animals. This is because they do not have a choice of whether to take part or not in the experiments. In addition, these animals do not get an opportunity to subscribe to the tests that they will undergo, especially considering the deadly reactions of some tests that leave these animals for dead. in addition, these tests do not also consider the aftermath of the experiments, such that after the experiments are complete, how will the aspects of the experiment affect the health and well being of the animals, such as their vision, physical strength, and reproductive health (Lowe, 2010). Conclusion In conclusion, it is necessary to ban animal testing because they are inhuman to the animals that have to take part in these experiments without giving their consent. In addition, these animals suffer great persecution and maltreatment while undergoing these tests and experiments, which makes it inhumane and in total disregard of their rights (Lowe, 2010). References Lowe, M. (2010). Colliding Feminisms: Britney Spears, “Tweens,” and the Politics of Reception. London. 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