The Abuse of Animal Rights in Regard to Their Use in Testing and Financial Exploitation - Term Paper Example

 Animal Rights Animal research has been used to achieve great milestones on many fields relating to health and medical wellbeing of both humans and animals. The research has reduced human suffering and come up with cures to diseases and conditions, as well as brought new knowledge into the world. However, due to the downside of the experiments, the main focus of the analysis lies on the abuse of animal rights in regard to their use in testing and financial exploitation. Experiments on animals have played a crucial role in the lives of both animals and humankind; relating to the use of animal research to improve the health of both humans and animals like in the case of medical breakthroughs. Studies suggest that, in the last century or so, almost every medical breakthrough that is relevant to both the animal and human world has had significant contributions from animal research. Such breakthroughs range from antibiotics, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and organ transplants among others (Jessen). These experiments have contributed significantly towards the quality and length of human life by handling some of the most difficult moments in human life known as disease and health conditions and complications. The above is due to the potential use of animal research in treating heart diseases and cancer, where it has contributed by bringing chemotherapy as an option in controlling and getting rid of cancer in humans and some animals. Due to animal testing and research, there are numerous lives saved from pain and loss since the research conducted provides an avenue to clear any anguish caused by disease. In addition, research on animals allows humans to come up with new vaccines or means of preventing diseases and some conditions that cannot be handled through any other means. This is especially so for the military, where animal research allows them to protect themselves from infection with malaria, Japanese encephalitis and Ross River fever (McGregor). The use of animal research, therefore, implies that without animal research, it would be virtually impossible beat the spread of some of these diseases or even receive treatment for them. In addition to health, animal research has allowed humans to wipe out some of the suffering that humans face across the world. This is following the use of animals in experiments, where humans are not used to find cures for painful diseases and conditions such as arthritis. This ensures that humans do not have to go through the same pain when suffering from the condition. As such, animal research is used to test drugs, as is the case with tests for arthritic pain, where the animals used in the experiments only experience the pain associated with the disorder (McGregor). After this, the effects of the drug on the pain are recorded to ensure its effectiveness in alleviating human suffering. In addition, other effects, either desired, or undesired are observed to ensure no harm comes to humans after consumption of the drugs under tests in animals. Animal research also saves humanity from facing some of the worst effects, such as death and disfigurement from using certain cosmetic products that are meant to improve the appearance of humans. With this in mind, humans are spared from the permanent or semi-permanent inconveniences that one finds in the course of pursuing beauty. Academically, animal research provides deeper insight into the world of animals for their own and for the good of humanity, as well. As such, animals used in biology lessons and medical training exercises allow students to learn how certain aspects that are similar to those of humans work (“More info on…”). Animal research, also, allows humans to improve living conditions for the said animals by learning what does not work well for animals, and what the most productive situations for the said animals are. Economically, research on animals saves numerous firms and companies from lawsuits following side effects of their products having severe, negative impacts on humans. Evasion occurs by having products tested on the animals and ensuring that they do not react negatively with humans prior to mass production thus; saving also on the cost of production of redundant materials or products. Still on economic value of animal research, they create a form of income for those that bear an interest in clothing made from animal skin and fur. Animals are raised in fur farms primarily for their fur, which is sold commercially for use in the manufacture of fur products (“More info on…”). However, some come from slaughterhouses, which is still some form of animal testing as animals are used for commercial purposes. The whole situation revolving animal research and testing bears a massive downside to it concerning the violation of common ethical issues. These include subjecting animals to unbearable suffering, doing little or nothing in alleviating their pain and capitalizing on animal suffering among others. As such, it is unethical to subject animals to suffering while there are alternative means through which similar results can be achieved. Evidence pointing to the above events includes the case of cosmetic production, where over 100 million animals die a cruel death for no apparent reason all thanks to research that is not even warranted (“More info on”). Cosmetics and household items are applied onto the eyes of animals all in order to observe the effect of certain household products on similar organs, which leads to their blindness. Most of the researches conducted on animals on some products are not even warranted or required by the law as they lack the required sensitivity, to recommend that they be conducted prior to commercial production. Cruel means of killing animals are also used, where animals are exposed to excruciating pain in order to die, or in order to prove a point (“The Fur Industry…”). This is especially so with fur farms that are said to apply the cheapest means available in the extermination of animals for the desired purpose. As such, some are suffocated, electrocuted, gassed or even poisoned in order to save on the cost of procuring the desired products. Considering means of killing, some of the animals used in research do not live with their most basic needs of life being met. This is regarding the filthy conditions in which they are expected to live in, such as cramped cages, showing the poor conditions to which they are subjected (“More info on…”). On the fur farms, those that are found in places such as china are known to bleed death or bludgeon, hang, or even skin their animals alive all proving the lack of ethics in handling animals and showing their blatant lack of respect (“More info on…”). In academic cases, animal research goes on to conduct invasive surgeries with little concern towards the wellbeing of the animals used. This is as seen in cases of cats, whose anesthesia wore off during surgery and woke up to find researchers cutting into their skulls proving the lack of respect for animal life by researchers. In some cases, animals are even starved in order to secure cooperation by providing food from time to time following achievement of the desired results (“Cats tormented and…”). In addition, wounds caused by these procedures on animals in academic institutions are not always treated subjecting animals to unbearable conditions where they face infections, and researchers continue to use the same animals for their experiments for extended periods. Vivisection is also used, where animals are cut while they are still alive and desired tests conducted on them with no painkillers (Algoe). This does not do any form of good for the animals, but only works for the humans who commercialize on such deeds. It is morally wrong to engage in such antics all in an attempt to satisfy curiosity or acquire knowledge with appreciating the life of animals. In addition, there are ethics that are set to govern experimentation on animals for whatever reason. The set ethics are the same ones that allow the occurrence of these events under the guise of realistic results such alleviation of human suffering, and curing diseases and conditions faced by humans. This may be a positive thing, but the animals suffer the conditions that are meant for humans. The organizations that set the ethics create the conditions, but do them in a selfish manner, where the animals do not stand to gain a thing, where it is only natural to benefit both animals and humans while using them in experiments. For example, institutions of higher education such as universities are meant to safeguard the welfare of animals considering they have a high level of understanding on the worth of life. However, it is the same institutions subjecting animals to torturous experiments such as not treating their infected wounds and subjecting them to vivisection (Algoe). Morally, it is wrong to treat animals in ways that lower the quality of their lives, especially by transferring the pain meant to e experienced by one individual on to another individual, without consent. As a result, animals suffer the pain meant for humans such as arthritic pains and the negative impacts of cosmetics in place of man. In such cases, animals have no say on whether they are willing participants in the experiments, but are rather forced into them, all thanks to the superiority of the humans. In conclusion, animal research is beneficial as it has helped in saving human lives and benefitted the animal world, as well as provided new knowledge to the world on both animals and humans. However, the negative aspects to it have led to ethical issues of violating animals by doing morally unconventional actions that lead to suffering and severe discomfort. Animal rights I. Introduction Animal research has been used to achieve great milestones on many fields relating to health and medical wellbeing of both humans and animals. The research has reduced human suffering and come up with cures to diseases and conditions, as well as brought new knowledge into the world. However, due to the downside of the experiments, analysis should be done of both the positive and the negative sides of animal research. II. Treatments Experiments on animals have played a crucial role in the lives of both animals and humankind In the last century every medical breakthrough has had significant contributions from animal research These experiments have contributed significantly towards the quality and length of human life Research on animals allows humans to come up with new vaccines III. Drug testing Animal research has allowed humans to wipe out some of the suffering that humans face across the world Animal research also saves humanity from facing some of the worst effects Humans are spared from the permanent or semi-permanent inconveniences that one finds in the course of pursuing beauty IV. Academics Animal research provides deeper insight into the world of animals for the good of humanity Animal research allows humans to improve living conditions for animals V. Economy Research on animals saves numerous firms and companies from lawsuits following side effects of their products They create a form of income for those that bear an interest in clothing made from animal skin and fur VI. Ethics The whole situation revolving animal research and testing bears a massive downside It is unethical to subject animals to suffering while there are alternative means through which similar results can be achieved. Most of the researches conducted on animals on some products are not even warranted or required by the law Cruel means of killing animals are also used, where animals are exposed to excruciating pain in order to die In academic cases, animal research goes on to conduct invasive surgeries with little concern towards the wellbeing of the animals used Animals are even starved in order to secure cooperation by providing food from time to time following achievement of the desired results Vivisection is used - animals are cut while they are still alive and desired tests conducted on them with no painkillers There are ethics that are set to govern experimentation on animals for whatever reason VII. Conclusion Animal research is positive because it has helped in saving human lives The negative aspects to it have led to ethical issues of violating animals. Works cited Algoe, Sara. Animals should not be used for medical experimentation.Hubpages2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. Jessen Walter. Animal Research: Animal Welfare vs. Animal Rights. Highlight Health. Nov. 28, 2012. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.< http://www.highlighthealth.com/resources/animal-research-animal-welfare-vs-animal-rights/> McGregor, Ken. Defence force defends monkey tests. news.com.au.2012.Web. 28 Nov. 2012. “Cats Tormented and Killed in University Lab”. n.d. Peta. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. “More Info on Animals Used for Clothing”. n.d. Peta. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. “More Info on Animals Used for Experimentation”. n.d. Peta. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. “The Fur Industry”. n.d. Peta. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. Read More