Animal Research

Animal rights advocates or activists may strongly oppose the use of animals in laboratory
testing. However, I believe that animal research is not a clear-cut matter that can be explicitly
judged as absolutely right or wrong. There are moral and ethical issues tied to the use of
animals in research, and the debate over it will be ongoing for as long as it is taking place.
Personally, I am in the camp that agrees with the use of animals in bio-medical research, but
only when the animals are treated humanely and responsibly.

Many significant biomedical breakthroughs are possible due to the use of animals in research
processes and experiments. These breakthroughs have benefited mankind by allowing the
alleviation or even prevention of diseases, improving our health and overall well-being.
Hence, it is apparent that in order to achieve scientific and medical advancement for the
betterment of mankind, a certain degree of animal usage should be permitted. However, this
does not imply that we are in the position to inflict any mindless acts of cruelty to the
laboratory animal subjects. This is due to the simple fact that animals have the same capacity
to feel pain just as humans do. Just because animals are unable to communicate their feelings
of pain, discomfort, fear and anxiety does not discount the fact that they are able to
experience such feelings, nor does it reduce the amount of suffering that they undergo each
time a disease-inducing gene is inserted into their genome or drug is administered into their
bodies, resulting in the onset of illnesses or manifestation of symptoms. Lab animals should
be treated in the most humane way possible when used in research, such as not prolonging
their suffering by leaving them to die naturally after lethal treatment but put them to sleep
quickly in the most painless manner. The use of animals in research should also be
minimized, or even eliminated, if equally effective alternatives are available; for instance,
using microbial cells such as fungi. Sadly and unfortunately, such alternatives usually lack
the efficacy provided by animals, and more time and resources could be devoted to enhancing
their effectiveness.

There exist reasons why animal research should be allowed to continue, just as there are
justifications for its abolishment. In conclusion, I feel that scientists and researchers using
animals in their research should adhere strictly to legislative guidelines set by professional
governing bodies, to ensure that animals are treated humanely and appropriately. Alternative
methods of research that do not involve the use of animals should also be actively pursued
and testing procedures improved to minimize the suffering of the animals. Lastly, we should
be grateful for the animals that were sacrificed for our sakes, and not take them for granted.
After all, not many of us would possess the moral integrity to deny a live-saving treatment
that had been made possible through animal research.

By: Lim Pei Qian