Using animals in medical research is a complex ethical issue since the lack of proven consciousness in creatures other than humans imposes certain societal obligations. Ethical theories allow society to flesh out a position on this issue and take one side based on its principles (Arnason, 2020). According to utilitarian theory, using animals in medical research is a good and ethical act, as it is intended to bring the most significant benefit to society. Although the interests of the second stakeholder (the animals) are not considered in this case, the limited range of creatures and their lack of consciousness per se allows research to be considered ethical. The theory also allows us to classify and specify the animals used for testing (Arnason, 2020). Usually, such animals are mice because they reproduce quickly, and their behavior is similar to that of humans; rabbits because they respond to social diseases. Other animals are rarely or not used because the most significant benefit cannot be obtained from them, and it is not ethical. In the context of animal pain, it is accepted that animals experience pain, so the interests of laboratory animals are protected and recognized (National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology, 2019). According to virtue theory, using animals is not considered ethical because humans are not becoming a better version of themselves by killing and using animals that cannot escape it. In this case, testing should be done in other ways without involving any living beings who cannot consent to do so (Khoo, 2018). When considering the evidence favoring utilitarianism theory regarding the use of animals in medical research, it is necessary to rely on existing valuable results. Unethical on the virtue side, humanity has been able to cure bacterial and viral diseases, save many people through medication, and cure previously deadly diseases. Protecting humanity is researchers’ first priority, so the choice between saving humans and removing animals from the experiment will always favor humans.
References
Arnason, G. (2020). The emergence and development of animal research ethics: A review with a focus on nonhuman primates. Science and Engineering Ethics, 26(4), 2277–2293. Web.
Khoo S. Y. (2018). Justifiability and animal research in health: Can democratisation help resolve difficulties? Animals: An Open Access Journal from MDPI, 8(2. Web.
National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology. (2019). Ethical guidelines for the use of animals in research. NENT. Web.