Animals are used in a wide variety of ways to perform biomedical research.Vivisection, the practice of invasive experimentation on animals, began because of religious prohibitions against the dissection of human corpses. A question arises in regard to this issue as to whether or not this practice is ethical. Those who support the use of animals in research promote that there are striking similarities between the physiological systems of humans and various species of animals. Because it is important to be able to gauge how a new drug, procedure, or product will affect a whole biological system before using it on humans, they believe that laboratory animals are an integral part of the research process. Others who oppose this practice believe that vivisection denies animals the basic rights that any innocent, conscious being deserves: freedom from exploitation, purposefully inflicted suffering, and captivity. The websites listed below address both sides of the issue.
Foundation
for Biomedical Research http://www.fbresearch.org/facts.html
The Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR) was established in 1981
to improve the quality of human and animal health by promoting public understanding
and support of the ethical use of animals in scientific and medical research.
FBR produces a wide variety of educational resources -- videos, posters,
brochures, etc. -- to help the general public understand why animals are
so important in the search for new and better ways to treat the diseases
that afflict both people and animals. This site contains answers
to common questions on animal research, general research facts and information,
and membership information.
The
Absurdity of Vivisection http://www.freezone.co.uk/vivabsurd/
This website opens with a quote of the week clearly expressing its
views on the issue: "This wild blood-lust, starting with animal vivisection
and proceeding to human mutilation, stamps 'modern medicine' as the most
primitive religion ever known to mankind" (Professor Robert Mendelsohn,
foreword to Slaughter of the Innocents). Other interesting quotes by notable
individuals such as Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, and Mahatma Gandhi
are also included. In addition, images of animal experiments are included
with warning signs to sensitive viewers due to graphic and possibly distressful
contents.
A
Critical Look at Animal Experimentation http://www.mrmcmed.org/critcv.html
This simple website outlines the designers' beliefs that animal experimentation
is an unsound method to examine human disease processes. According to them,
considerable evidence demonstrates that animal experimentation is inefficient
and unreliable, while newly developed methodologies are more valid and
less expensive than animal studies. Specifically, they focus on animal
research that has been done for cancer, AIDS, degenerative neurological
diseases, psychiatry and psychology, and genetic diseases and offer alternative
methods of research such as epidemiology, autopsy and biopsy, and patient
studies.
Animal
Research is Vital to Medicine http://www.sciam.com/0297issue/0297botting.html
This is a feature article on the Scientific American website. The authors
hold that "to restrict research with animals would prevent discoveries
that would benefit humankind." Their intent is to show exactly where they
regard animal research to have been essential in the past and to point
to where they believe it will be vital in the future.
Guidelines
for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animals http://www.apa.org/science/anguide.html
This site was developed by the American Psychological Association's
Committee on Animal Research and Ethics (CARE). It includes guidelines
that were developed by the APA for use by psychologists working with nonhuman
animals. This is just an example of one set of guidelines that a professional
organization must follow when using animals in their experiments.
PETA
on Animal Experimentation http://www.peta-online.org/cmp/exp.html
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), based in Norfolk,
is an organization that strongly opposes vivisection for any reasons, including
dissection in classrooms and testing for cosmetic and toiletry products.
This website explains their stance and offers alternatives to animal use.
It also has an article commenting on the EPA's chemical toxicity testing,
whom PETA says uses more animals than any other federal agency.
Americans
for Medical Progress Educational Foundation lhttp://www.ampef.org/
The mission of Americans for Medical Progress is to bolster public
understanding and support of the humane use of animals in medical research.
Their website includes examples of benefits for humans that would not have
been attained without animal research and a timeline of medical advances
through animal research. It also has links to articles on the issue that
have been in the news and comments on the animal rights movement.
The
National Anti-Vivisection Society http://www.navs.org/index.cfm
This colorful, informative, and easy-to-navigate site displays new
features each day regarding animal experimentation and research issues.
It also contains membership information for those interested.
www.AnimalLaw.com
Developed by the Anti-Vivisection Society, this website serves as a
comprehensive online resource that uses the Internet to disseminate legal
and legislative information as it pertains to animal issues. This site
is available to attorneys, law students, animal advocates and members of
the general public who are conducting research in this area.