Animal Testing in Medical Research

Animal research has increased throughout the years due to our ever expanding need for

new medicine or pharmaceuticals. Without a doubt, there has been regulations implemented for

the betterment of the testing conditions of these animals. These regulations were as a result of

public pressure as opinions towards animals began to evolve in the 1950s. Furthermore, there are

still many cases in which unethical experimental testing has gone unnoticed despite the

regulations put into place.

“If it hurts you, it probably hurts the animal” (block quote)

-Veterinarian Gerald F. Gehart of the University of Iowa speaks on ethical animal testing

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In 1959, Rex Birch and William Russell published their book The Principles of Human

Experimentation where they proposed the Three Rs for animal testing in research. The three Rs

are composed of reduction, refinement, and replacement. Under these guidelines, Birch and

Russell urged researchers to reduce the amount of animal subjects used for testing, the

refinement of the experimental procedure itself in order to cause as little distress or pain to the

animal, and the replacement of animal subject with the use of alternative methods. Ultimately the

Three Rs served as the earliest outline to ethical animal experimentation.

Early Criticism of the Three Rs

Despite the Three Rs contribution to the welfare of laboratory animals there are several

criticisms of the ideology as a whole. These criticism root from the amendment’s inability to

protect against loopholes and only requires a validation for the cause of suffering in an animal

which once is deemed as acceptable cannot be argued.

 Silver Springs Monkey Case

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The Silver Springs Monkey Case is an example of a violation of ethical experimental

animal testing. Alex Pacheco, the co-founder of PETA, gained interest in obtaining experience in

a laboratory setting considering his position. Pacheco was hosted by head researcher, Dr. Edward

Taub, at the Institute for Behavioral Research in Silver Spring Maryland. Furthermore, as he

gained experience in the lab he was exposed to malnourishment and unsuitable care of monkeys

that were kept in unsanitary living conditions. As a result, he decided to intervene by seeking the

help of experts in the field. This allowed him to build a strong case with an abundance of

evidence in order to seek justice for the animals. Pacheco succeeded and made history on

September 11, 1981 when the police raided the first laboratory in the United States. The

monkeys were removed from the facility and Dr. Edward Taub faced 17 charges of animal

cruelty.

The Animal Welfare Act

The Animal Welfare Act was first passed by Congress in 1966. Since its passing, it has

been amended on six different occasions with the intentions of promoting animal welfare. The
United States “became the first Federal law protecting the welfare of laboratory animals and

brought the issue of stolen pets to the forefront of animal welfare concerns” (USDA). It was not

until December 24, 1970 that there was an amendment added to the Animal Welfare Act which

redefined its definition of the animals which were protected by the act. These ‘animals’ were

defined by warm blooded animals, however, it excluded mice, rats, and birds. In 1985 the

Improved Standards for Laboratory Animals Act was amended into the Animal Welfare Act.

Ultimately, this amendment increased the standards of care for animals held in labs and required

researchers to establish Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees. The role of these

committees were to review and approve experimental activities that dealt with the care and use

animals. It is important that this is done for the purpose of minimizing pain and distress in

animals.

If possessing a higher degree of intelligence does not entitle one human to use another for

its own ends, how can it entitle humans to exploit nonhumans for the same purpose?

-Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation (block quote)

Peter Singer Animal Liberation (1975)

During the 19th century, Peter Singer published his book Animal Liberation around the

same time that the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the Abolition movement were flourishing

in the United States. Singer argued, “If the argument for equality was sound, when applied to to

women, why should it not be applied to dogs, cats, and horses?” (1). He explored the idea as to

how society could argue for the equal rights of humans but not consider it when it came to the
rights of nonhuman species. Ultimately, in his book Singer addresses the root of this and credits

it to egalitarianism and speciesism.

1980s: Emergence of Prominent Animal Advocacy Organizations

Following social and cultural pressures, prominent animal advocacy organizations debut.

Center for Alternative Testing

In 1981, The Center for Alternative Testing was founded by Johns Hopkins University and the

University of Konstaz. Together these two institutions were able to create this center with

funding with a $1 million grant from Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association with the

intentions of improving experimental conditions (Hopkins).

Lab animals are not our tasters; we are not their kings. Because these animals are treated

routinely, systematically as if their value were reducible to their usefulness to others, they are

routinely, systematically treated with a lack o f respect, and thus are their rights routinely,

systematically violated. (block quote from Case for Animal Rights)

-Tom Regan

Tom Regan Case for Animal Rights (1983)

In Regan’s book, he discusses the idea that animals have rights and they deserve equality because

we are violating their rights. Additionally, he challenged Singer’s perspective on utilitarianism.

Violation of Animal Welfare Act: A Case Study (2008)

 In Southern Louisiana, The New Iberia Research Center, a facility known for housing the

largest population of nonhuman primates. These primates are used in testing for pharmaceutical

drugs and infectious disease experiments. These experiments are largely funded federally and

with money granted by the pharmaceutical industry. In 2008, the Humane Society of the United

States uncovered a violation of The Animal Welfare Act due to cruelty and neglect. Additionally,

the laboratory is funded by the National Institutes of Health and US taxpayers.

Texas A&M University Unethical Animal Testing (2016- present)

Muscular dystrophy breeding in golden retrievers at Texas A&M University. Head

researcher, Joseph Kornegay, has been breeding these animals for over 30 years. Kornegay,

believes his work is valuable and has no intention of quitting his research. Thus, his lab is

currently still in possession of these animals and is still breeding them with the intention of

having the disease.

Timeline

Scientific American 1997

1. Does the introduction signal that the essay is a literature review (if applicable)? If

not, then does it at least set up an overall problem definition (issues, stakeholders,

consequences, etc.)?

1. The introduction does not signal that the essay is a literature review; however, the

intro provides a basic background information and the main issue she is going to

discuss in her paper.

2. Does the introduction set up a historical framework? Is there a working sense of

history that has been established with respect to the sources that will be discussed?

1. Yes. One of the historical reference in the intro is the Three Rs principle for

animal testing. The principle was established in 1959 and still is being practiced

and followed in present day’s animal testing lab.

3. Does the intro give the reader a sense of how the essay is going to proceed? By this, I

mean does the intro serve as an overview of what comes?

1. Yes. She clearly indicates that she is going to target the issue regarding with

animal testing, especially for medical and pharmaceutical needs.

4. Does the essay give some indication as to why these sources are worth reviewing?

1. Yes. The source she provides are well-established scholars from famous

universities.

5. Are any quotes helping the reader get a sense of how the paper will work? (You

don't want very specific quotes – but somewhat broader quotes that can help the reader

get an idea of what the essay will discuss could be helpful

1. Yes. She has a quote inserted to further let the readers understand how animal can

feel just like human.

 Work Cited

http://caat.jhsph.edu/about/timeline.html