Animal Experimentation: Unnecessary and Unacceptable

Animal Experimentation: Unnecessary and Unacceptable

Miniaci Performing Arts Center

Each year millions of innocent animals are mutilated, burned, poisoned and gassed in unnecessary experiments. Although many argue that animal experimentation is necessary for the progression of society, more specifically the medical advancement of mankind, the fact is that human and animals are different in many way. So much so that today doctors are able to treat diseases on the very level that separates different species, the cellular level. Additionally, it can be argued that we in fact really do not know which animals will react like humans. For instance, humans are unique in getting AIDS from HIV, and suffering from lung cancer from smoking and getting heart disease from a high fat diet. Furthermore, animal testes are inadequate for predicting side effects of medications. In an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in April 1998, it was reported that adverse reactions to medications was the forth leading killer of Americans.

These predicaments however can be curbed by implementing Russell and Burch’s 3 R’s: replacement, reduction and refinement. The dilemma can also be quelled by speaking out against classroom dissection, by shopping with compassion, writing letters to companies that test on animals and by joining organizations that seek to protect the lives of innocent animals.

Sources: National Anti- Vivisection Societyhttp://www.navs.org

The Journal of the American Medical Association

http://www.jama.com