Animal Testing and me

Animals should be used on research for the sole purpose that since theirs nervous systems are similar to ours we are able to experiment and help save millions of human lives.  If animals weren't available for research then many of the medical innovations we have now wouldn't be available to the public. Animals should be used in research in order to come up with cures for the diseases and to help decrease the human mortality rate.

Animals are able to feel pain and be frightened but “Animals and humans do not think alike, feel alike, or experience alike,” (Derbyshire, Stuart)  which is what puts humans on a higher scale than animals. We, humans, need animals to test. If there was another way to experiment we would use it but there isn't so for now the best option we have in order to save humans lives is to test animals, An example of such would be the need for dogs in order to test for insulin. About 17 million people have diabetes from which 209,664 died because of it in 1991 (AALAS). Without animal testing we wouldn't have been able to identify the cause of diabetes and we wouldn't have insulin for the diabetic people to take in. This would result in even more deaths which could be prevented through animal testing. Dogs are used in order to research open-heart surgeries, strokes, and heart attacks in order to improve treatment for humans. About 50 million Americas (ages 6 and older) have high blood pressure which can result in stokes, heart attacks, and heart diseases. Animals are tested to find treatments and ways to prevent the people being treated to die.

Animal testing has led to the discovery of cures for diseases such as Herpes Simplex, Hepatitis B, Polio, rabies, malaria, and mumps (Source A) which have helped the human population and prevented deaths.  This has helped save many human lives and helped discover more cures for different diseases. Treatments for chronic diseases have decreased the mortality rate and raised awareness such as treatment for Breast Cancer, Childhood Leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, and lung cancer. About 95% of the animals used in testing are rats or mice as stated by the AMP (Americans for Medical Process). The scientists make sure that the animals used are needed and are treated to the 3R’s:  refinement, reduction, and replacement. Refinement of the experiment so the animal will receive the least amount of pain possible, Reduction of the number of animals used in the experiment, and finally Replacement in which they try to do experiments that do not require the use of animals.  

The research done has set several goals for the scientists that didn't seem possible a few years back. For example, there is hope in finding a way to stop Parkinson’s disease from progressing in its victims. The research has led to a decrease in the amount of Heart Diseases/ Strokes related deaths in America.

In reality, many are against animal research because they deem it as “inhumane” but most of the animals used are mice. Research involves the use of same type of animals (mice) that people try so hard to get rid of in their homes with traps and poison. The people that are sick and want to get well will continue to take their medicine regardless of whether or not an animal was used to research the treatment. The people that are anti-animal research can’t expect everyone to convert to their ideals and stop taking their insulin (for those with diabetes) daily in order to protect the feelings of a mouse/rat. At least when researchers use animals they try to help others and advance the knowledge on a certain topic/disease. There are strict guidelines when it comes to animal testing such as research can’t be done on a sick animal or the USDA can shut down the program.

Animals are needed in order to continue finding cures for diseases that are seen now and will be coming up again because new epidemics will always arise.

References:

1. "ANIMAL RESEARCH." Americans For Medical Progress. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.
2. "Home." Http://awic.nal.usda.gov/. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
3. Who Would You Rather See Alive ? Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.