The Use of Animals in Medical Research

Throughout the latter part of the 19^th century, and all of the 20^th century, activist groups continued to escalate their efforts toward the construction of animal rights laws. Once enacted, however, they found that the well intentioned animal welfare laws went largely unenforced; that is, until the activists began to literally create criminal media events, which highlighted the animal abuses that were still going on (Francione & Carlton, 2002). By the close of the 20^th century, the two groups were at a virtual standoff. Vital research for a whole host of tragic diseases was being held up by the often violent, and always well publicized, activities of groups who labeled the use of any animal in research as a violation of animal welfare laws.

More recently, this situation seems to have begun to be diffused, somewhat, as the medical research community has begun to take positive action toward resolving the issues about which the animal rights activists are so concerned. For example, the University of Wisconsin has formed a Research Animal Resource Center (RARC), which has, in turn, developed an entire training program to be taught specifically to University of Wisconsin students who will be involved with animal research in any way (Carlson, 2004). This course is comprehensive, covering both academic and practical issues surrounding the use of animals in research. Students practice, supervised, in real laboratories, with real animals. They learn that the university has a policy to never abandon a researcher who is unsure of himself or herself by providing expert assistance the instant any researcher calls for help, even if it is only with a piece of equipment. Since this program has been recently published, it is expected that it will serve as a model for other university and hospital laboratories that engage in research involving animals.

Whether or not animals should be used in research at all is a matter of perspective that is affected by when, where, and under what circumstances an individual or society makes their decision (Carlson, 2003). No individual wants to harm an animal in pursuit of a theory. However, the same individual, should it be possible to save the life of their loved one through the efforts of research using animals, would be the first to insist that the research continue. The problem today is that norms and mores do not develop at the same rate and society has not yet completed developing its attitude toward this issue. In addition, just about the time society is able to begin a valid, rational discussion concerning animal rights, one of the activist organizations uncovers an atrocity and the two sides are polarized again (PETA, 2004).

There was a time when animals were not even considered to be sentient beings. Today, that fact is a given. Yet, humans also know that they must kill a huge number of animals for food, in order to remain healthy themselves. It is a short step from there to the need to use animals in medical research. Unfortunately, past stories of abuse, such as those involving small animals tortured during research in the cosmetics industry, have, in effect, poisoned the well, so to speak. Activists have had significant success in slowing down the use of animals in medical research. In a knee-jerk reaction against animal rights activists, there are even a few well known researchers who claim that animals have no moral claim against humans and, thus, are not entitled to rights in the first place (Cohen, 1986). However, with responsible institutions now developing safeguards to ensure the ethical treatment of animals in research, it is expected that the activists and researchers may actually, at some point in time, be able to work together to ensure the safety of the animals that must be used to advance medical knowledge. As a result of the ethical use of animals in medical research, society is now the beneficiary of research on rats that shows promise in something so simple as exercising limbs being able to protect the brain from some of the effects of Parkinson's Disease (Smith, A.D., & Zigmond, M.J., 2003). As society further refines its point of view, the ethical use of animals in medical research looks promising as part of an overall effort to improve the quality of life for all human beings.

References

Carlson, Emily. (2003, May 8). Researchers learn to treat animals humanely. Americans for Medical Progress News. Retrieved: October 28, 2004, from: http://www.amprogress.org/News/News.cfm?ID=541&c=62

Cohen, C. (1986). The case for the use of animals in biomedical research. The New England Journal of Medicine, 315(14), 865 - 869.

Francione, G.L., & Charlton, A.E. (2002). Animal Rights Law: Anti-Cruelty Statutes: Introduction. Retrieved: October 28, 2004, from: http://www.animal-law.org/statutes/intro.htm

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). (2004). Cruelty at Perdue plant in Showell, Maryland. Retrieved: October 28, 2004 from: http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/cok-perdue.asp

Smith, A.D., & Zigmond, M.J. (2003). Can the brain be protected through exercise? Lessons from an animal model of Parkinsonism. Experimental Neurology, 184(1), 274 - 284.