Should the animals be used for scientific research Is it humanly - Essay Example

Should Animals be used for Scientific Research? Is it Humanly What is your claim? In animal testing has remained an important and controversial issue in political and ethical circles with the subject of concern revolving around the relative value of animals and humans. Animal experimentation or animal research has been practiced since 300s BC. Also known as animal experimentation, the practice involves the use of non-human animals to carry out experiments. In many cases, organisms such as fruit flies, zebra fish, nematode worms, guinea pigs and mice among other animals are used for experimentation.

Whenever the needs of human beings and animals become conflicting, human needs should take precedence. 2. State your ethos. What is your credibility? Why do your readers believe you and find you trustworthy? My claim is based on the fact that I am a person of high moral standing and as a specialist in bio-medicine I understand the challenge of using human beings for certain tests. I believe that animals have rights which should be respected much like human rights should. This in effect means that I am against the use or misuse of animals in some ways. 3. Who are your audience?

Since the issue of animal experimentation is an issue of great concern, my audience comprises politicians, medical experts, animal rights activists, those who view animals as an exploitable resource, and those who have no idea about the subject.What is at Stake?It is believed that each year over 50 million animals are used for research world wide. Some people have argued that this goes against animal rights as testing causes pain to the animals. However, this claim is in whole a generalization.

One only needs to consider the developments that have been achieved in medicine today to realize how important animal testing is to human kind. 4. What evidence do you have to support your claim?Modern societies have developed regulations that govern the use of animals for experimentation. One such regulation is Britain’s Cruelty to Animals Act (1876). Some of the requirements are concerned with the minimization of pain and other unsuitable effects to the animal being used for a test. Claude Bernard (125), the prince of vivesectors himself stated that animal testing is exclusively for the “hygiene” and “toxicology” of man.5. What do you have to say about other perspectives?

Many people have claimed that animals have their moral rights. For example, Tom Regan believes that animals have self consciousness, desires and beliefs and are therefore beings. These beings have inherent value and therefore rights that must be respected (Singer 346). However, Regan also states that to save human lives, killing animals is allowed.Animal testing is carried out as a measure to preserve or protect the human being from harm. This is more clearly understood by asking; how many people would volunteer to take the place of a guinea pig in an experiment that would involve being injected by deadly viruses without an assurance that there is medicine that cures the disease that the virus causes?

While we may be able to find a few volunteers, this number would not meet the demand considering the many experiments that are conducted around the globe each day.ReferenceClaude Bernard. An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine, 1865. First English translation by Henry Copley Greene, Macmillan & Co., Ltd., 1927, p. 125.Singer Peter “A Companion to Ethics". Blackwell Companions to Philosophy, Chapter 30 "Animals" by Lori Gruen 1991. p346