Introduction
Humans have long used animal testing to assess how the disease affects biology. There is debate about whether animal testing can be abandoned and moved to more humane and modern models that benefit humans and do not harm animals. Testing animals for scientific purposes in medicine is appropriate because such studies are highly specialized, include organized anesthesia, and have more ethical protocols to provide safety for animals.
Arguments
The Practicality of Animal Studies
Animal studies are a convenient and reasonably simple way to evaluate drug effects and determine behavior dynamics. Their use is currently necessary because there is yet to be a concrete alternative or way to eliminate this. In their research, Kabene and Baadel (5) confirm that animal testing can be justified. They also point out that it is related to genetically oriented research: gene modifications require mortality. Ethically, this is prohibited in humans, even if they express consent. Using animals in genetics and fundamental medicine is justified and is the best option (Kabene and Baadel 6).
Animals can be pitied as people become attached to their pets and consider them family members. However, every person would like to extend their life and that of their loved ones. Animal testing allows science to move forward and reduce the risks of dangerous diseases, including infectious diseases and cancer. At this point, the value of animal research is too great to pass up.
The Importance of Using Various Animal Species
Using different animals for medical research is very important. They have similar genotypes to humans and are better at predicting changes in disease because they correspond to a different set of human traits. Mukherjee et al. (4) argue that the potential of other animals is respected in medicine and allows researchers to undertake interventions to treat animals, not just humans. Furthermore, these models aim to support and evaluate various disease categories.
Mukherjee et al. (pp. 5-6) also provide data indicating that proper anesthesia is available and safe for animals. Many people worry about whether an animal is in pain because human feelings do not allow for aggression toward pets. It should be remembered that animals do not experience the same range of pain as humans, and scientists strive to compensate for their suffering in the most humane way possible. Unfortunately, abandoning animal models will lead to a pronounced decline in science, exacerbating many diseases due to lack of data. Hence, support for animal testing should exist as it minimizes suffering and maximizes maximum benefit.
The Role of Committees and Organizations in Promoting Animal Welfare
Finally, an essential aspect of animal welfare is the establishment of committees and organizations that work to benefit animals. For instance, Seoul National University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee has long advocated for better circumstances for laboratory animals (Ahn et al. 536). Developing regulatory requirements for research protocols, obligatory rules to preserve animal life, single-use, and more create a humane environment when using laboratory animals (Brown et al.).
These aspects confirm the value of laboratory animals, their breadth of use, and scientists’ aspirations to improve safety protocols. The rationalization of research protocols allows for the continuation of helping humans while promoting the ethical and moral principles of animal testing. Humans are inherently caring and empathic, and these principles lead the way in the design of research protocols using laboratory animals. Consequently, the trend towards creating an accurate and humane approach indicates the need for the continued use of animals in medical research.
Counterargument
While objecting to animal testing, some argue that there has been progress in computerized research. For instance, Hutchinson et al. (5) argue that modernizing research using technology is a cost-effective and ethical way of doing so. Furthermore, they point out that including donor human cells in experiments may contribute to scientific progress more than animals (Hutchinson et al. 2).
Addressing Objections to Animal Research
While one can agree with this belief, donation must involve taking cells from any human being. This procedure could involve any target group, but only some people are likely to participate due to the lack of a donation system. Computer technology still needs to have the same predictive capabilities as real cases. Furthermore, computerized experiments include only a few factors surrounding a person. Consequently, scientific society cannot be sure that the current methods are appropriate and could help in the studies.
Conclusion
Thus, the use of animals is rational and necessary for research in medicine and biology. Firstly, only a specific range of fields claims the need for laboratory animals: genetic and fundamental research needs to be simplified for human trials. Secondly, the diverse profile of animal models makes it possible to select the proper anesthesia and thereby reduce the pain symptoms that animals may experience: this facilitates the moral side of the issue. Thirdly, new protocols and trends towards increased ethical use of animals provide a solid moral and legal basis for applying the requirements. Taken together, these aspects convince people that the high efficiency and impact on the science of laboratory animals make it possible to consider them the most rational approach in biomedical research for the time being.
Works Cited
Ahn, Na et al. “The Status and Issues of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Seoul National University: From its Establishment to the Present Day.” Experimental Animals, vol. 70, no. 4, 2021, pp. 532-540. Web.
Brown, Marilyn J., et al. “Culture of Care: Organizational Responsibilities.” Management of Animal Care and Use Programs in Research, Education, and Testing, edited by Robert H. Weichbrod et. al., 2nd ed., CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, 2018. pp. 11–26.
Hutchinson, Isobel et al. “Modernizing Medical Research to Benefit People and Animals.” Animals: An Open Access Journal from MDPI, vol. 12, no. 9, 2022. Web.
Kabene, Stefane, and Said Baadel. “Bioethics: A Look at Animal Testing in Medicine and Cosmetics in the UK.” Journal of Medical Ethics and History Of Medicine, vol. 12, no. 15, 2019. Web.
Mukherjee, P et al. “Role of Animal Models in Biomedical Research: A Review.” Laboratory Animal Research, vol. 38, no.1, 2022. Web.