Vivisection should be reduced in medical sciences for several reasons. It causes immense suffering to animals since they have similar nervous systems to humans. Animals are often subjected to the same unnecessary tests repeatedly just to expand research. Vivisection also endangers some species, as animal testing has led to the extinction of at least 500 species and destruction of natural habitats. While animal research has contributed to medical advances, the costs to animal welfare and conservation mean vivisection needs to be reduced.
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Vivisection
1. VIVISECTION REDUCTION OF PRIMATES IN
MEDICAL SCIENCES
Alcalde, Loren Grace
Manguilimotan, Edd Nysha
2. I. Introduction
A. According to the United State Department of Agriculture
(USDA), over 1.1 million warm-blooded animals utilized in
biomedical testing receive minimal standards of care and
treatment in laboratories.
B. Vivisection should be reduced in the medical sciences even
though it is the most reliable subject for testing medicines
and other products of toxicity because it causes suffering to
animals, subjects them to the same test repeatedly, and leads
to endangerment of the species.
3. II. Background
A. Animals that were non-human in nature are used as
human surrogates although they may be biologically and
medically irrelevant to specific problem under study.
1. In some cases, the experimental responses of an animal or a
portion of its body may be so over-generalized that they no
longer have any resemblance to biological reality.
2. Animal models were used to investigate infectious agents to
which the animals shared vulnerability with humans.
3. Replication of research results is a valid scientific principle.
Redundancy and variations on a common theme, however,
are simply bad science.
4. B. Data gathered through animal testing are not reliable.
1. It has been proven that over 92% of drugs that claim to pass
the animal trials fail when tested on humans by the Humane
Society of the United States.
2. Studies have shown that animals predict correctly only
about 5-25% of the time.
3. Many drugs pass their animal testing phase and reach the
market are later withdrawn or relabeledbecause subsequent
tests on humans reveal side effects not indicated by the
animal tests.
5. III. Body
A. Vivisection is the most reliable subject for testing
medicines and other products of toxicity.
1. A survey conducted in the American Medical Association
indicates that 98% of all active physicians in the United
States believe that animal research has given rise to medical
advancements.
2. According to the US-based Foundation
for Biomedical Research, animal research
has played a vital role in virtually every
major medical advance of the last century -
for both human and veterinary health.
6. 3. Human beings share over 99.4% of their genes with
chimpanzees and about 99.0% with mice. For this reason, it
is useful and productive to study these animals as a means of
advancing human sciences.
7. B. Vivisection causes suffering to animals.
1. Animals have nervous systems very like ours, which respond
physiologically when the animal is in circumstances in which
they would feel pain: an initial rise of blood pressure, dilated
pupils, perspiration, an increased pulse rate, and, if the stimulus
continues, a fall in blood pressure.
2. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals states
that "The ability to experience and respond to pain is widespread
in the animal kingdom...Pain is a stressor and, if not relieved, can
lead to unacceptable levels of stress and distress in animals.
8. 3. Animal testing statistics compiled by People for Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA) shows that as many 76,000
animals were subjected to testing procedures involving immense
pain without administering anesthesia
9. C. In vivisection, animals are subjected to the same test
repeatedly and unnecessarily.
1. In their effort to secure research funds, expand the territorial
boundaries and influence of their laboratories, biomedical
researchers generate an endless series of experiments
subjecting animal models to unnecessary dissection.
2. Scientists often redefine their previous work, subdividing
one problem into multiple parts to answer old or irrelevant
question.
10. 3. Annually, over 115,000,000 primates globally (20,000 in the
USA alone), are subjected to animal experiments in the name
of "medical research". Studies confirm that nearly 2/3 of
these experiments have absolutely nothing to do with
advancing human medicine or curing human diseases.
11. D. Vivisection may also lead to endangerment of some
species.
1. According to the International Union for Conservation of
Nature vivisection had caused the extinction of at least 500
species of animals.
2. Despite of the utilization of
abundant species in animal testing,
the act creates a cycle that triggers
the beginning of species' extinction.
12. 3. Destruction of an animal's natural habitat, frequently caused
by animal testing, will lead to the endangerment and eventually
the extinction of the species.
IV. Conclusion
Although animal testing (vivisection) is vital in medical
progress, it should be reduced, if it is impossible to
abolish the practice, to at least lessen animal suffering,
and save the existing species.