Should Animal Testing Be Banned?

Animal testing describes procedures performed on living animals to develop medical treatments, determine the toxicity of medications, check the safety of products destined for human use and other biomedical, commercial and health care uses. This kind of research has been practiced since at least 500 BC. It is estimated that there are more than 115 million animals used in laboratory experiments every year worldwide. The most common animals are mice, rats, guinea pigs, dogs and rabbits. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport and dealers. However, the most used animals - mice and rats - are excluded from this act. In addition, there is the PHS Policy on Human Care and Use of Laboratory Animals that must be followed by institutions that receive federal funds for research with any vertebrate animal.

 

The most common reason why animals are used for research purposes is because they are biologically similar to humans and susceptible to many of the same health problems. Moreover, scientists can easily control their environment which would be more difficult in human testing. Furthermore, mice as an example also have a short life cycle so they can be studied throughout their whole lifespan, Yet, over 90% of drugs tested on animals fail in human trials, according to the National Institute of Health. Furthermore, the testing procedures are mostly cruel and inhumane. Animals are suffering and experience severe stress. Only a very low percentage of the test animals survive the experiments. 

 

In my opinion, animal testing should be banned because no animal should have to live under these conditions. There are not enough benefits to animal testing to justify it. Animals are just not similar enough to humans so the experiments could work. The failure rate is too high and the drugs that passed animal tests are not necessarily safe. New methods to assure the safety of products do exist. Cruelty-free drugs or cosmetic products are tested with human tissue-based and human cell-based research methods amongst others. Cruelty-free means that there are no animals included in the research. There are other methods so I think we should also use them instead of creating so much harm to these animals.

 

What do you think about animal testing? 

Should it be banned? Why or why not?

Do you pay attention to whether the products you buy are cruelty-free?

 

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-animal-testing

https://www.peta.org/features/faqs-about-animal-testing/

https://redorangepeach.com/animal-cruelty/testing-in-usa/

https://www.humanesociety.org/all-our-fights/taking-suffering-out-science

https://www.physiology.org/career/policy-advocacy/animal-research/Why-do-scientists-use-animals-in-research?SSO=Y#:~:text=Animals%20are%20good%20research%20subjects,span%20or%20across%20several%20generations.

https://www.physiology.org/career/policy-advocacy/animal-research/how-animal-research-is-regulated?SSO=Y

https://www.hsi.org/news-media/about/

You need to be a member of History 360 to add comments!

Join History 360

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies

  • I think animal testing is a nessecary evil because it can save human lives but it puts animals in danger. I think it shouldn't be banned, only if the conditions are good, for the reasons metioned  before and I don't really look at cruelty-free on any of the product that I use.

    • The products still need to be safe before you can use them, I agree with you about that one. I think we should put even more research into that topic so the animals don't need to suffer anymore.

  • I think that animal testing should be banned. It is cruel to the animals and most of the time, their living conditions are trashy. There has got to be a better way to test drugs safely without putting another living being through the effects if it fails. I don't really pay attention to labels like cruelty free or cage free but I could see if other people really care about that kind of stuff its a better option for them. 

    • I totally agree with you! I was so shocked when I found out that such a high percentage of the tests are failing. The animals need to go through this pain for nothing. 

  • I think that animal testing shouldn't be banned. Although it is very cruel to the animals it can be necessary for humans to live. It helps us to understand how diseases spread and how they live. Personally I don't look to see if my products are cruelty-free or not.

    • I think we should find other ways and use the things we already know about testing opportnunities so we still get the knowledge about how diseases spread but no one needs to get harmed. 

  • I dont think animal testing should be band. I have put alot of thought into this and I love animals but sometimes it's necessary thay we test them. a lot of our medicines and vaccines were tested on animals before we used them. Without animal testing, we would die. I never really check to see if my products are cruelty free. 

  • I think animal testing is hurting the animal and I don't prefer it. I think animal testing should be banned it is cruel and sometimes it doesn't work for most of the time. I don't check the product that I buy but they are cruelty free and sometime I will check to make sure it's not.

  • I think animal testing is cruel and I don't perfer it. I think animal testing should be banned because it is cruel and it does not work most of the time anyhow. I do not check if the products I use are cruelty-free, but I should start doing that because I think it would be important to do so.

    • I agree with you. For me, it also doesn't make much sense because there is a high percentage where it isn't working but still the animals need to suffer. 

This reply was deleted.
eXTReMe Tracker