Winning Essays
Sixteenth Annual
High School Essay Contest
"Why Are Animals Used in Biomedical Research?"
2007
Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research
Post Office Box 1163
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17001-1163
www.psbr.org
High School Essay Contest Winners
The Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research is pleased to announce the winners in its
sixteenth annual essay contest for high school students. A total of 442 students from 48
different schools wrote on the topic question, “Why Are Animals Used in Biomedical
Research?” Winners were selected after three rounds of judging by PSBR members and
friends.
PSBR congratulates the winners and applauds the efforts of all the students, teachers, and
judges who took the time to help make this contest a great success.
Grand Essayists Awards
10th Grade Student
Council Rock High School North
Newtown, PA
Is biomedical research inhumane, or does the inhumanity lay in allowing vital
information with the capability to save millions of lives, animal and human alike, to slip
through our fingers? Many believe that testing cures and remedies on animals is cruel and
inhumane, although this research is imperative to medical progress. Animal testing not only
advances the scientific knowledge of medicine used to treat humans but to treat animals as
well. Protected by restrictive laws to ensure proper treatment, animals provide critical
information for medical progress.
In order to uncover the mysteries of the human body, cure diseases, and discover new
methods of surgery and treatment, scientists must study a model similar to that of the human
body. Scientists use biomedical research "to assess human biologic reactions and responses"
("Animal"). Animals are used in biomedical research because they are structured similarly to
the human body. Although advances in technology have enabled scientists to use cell and
tissue samples to conduct research, many processes can only be accurately studied through
the use of mammals, because of their similarity to humans. Emulating the body's complex
processes is essential to biomedical research in order to study how diseases and possible
treatments affect the body. Animals are vital components to advancements in medicine:
"Animal studies have provided the scientific knowledge that allows health care providers to
improve the quality of life for humans and animals by preventing and treating diseases and
disorders, and by easing pain and suffering" ("Animal"). This information is obtained
through careful animal testing, regulated by multiple laws within the United States to ensure
the safety of the animals. Animals are protected by the Animal Welfare Act which guarantees
that animals receive proper housing, food, exercise, and living environment. Scientists are
also required to present a research proposal to an institutional animal care and use committee
to receive permission before beginning research. In addition, research conducted involves
experiments that do not harm the animals, or drugs are administered to the animal prior to the
experiment in order to ease the pain. Biomedical research is conducted safely in order to
ensure the proper treatment of the animals and is imperative to scientific progress.
Medical advancements through biomedical research are extremely beneficial to
humans. Without the inclusion of animal testing in biomedical research, the scientific
discoveries made throughout the years concerning medical treatments and cures would not
have progressed to the advanced knowledge society possesses today: "Animal research has
played a vital role in virtually every major medical advance of the last century-for both
human and animal health" ("Proud"). Through biomedical research, scientists have been able
to develop vaccines against polio, measles, smallpox, tetanus, and rubella. Animal testing
also contributed to the development of antibiotics to fight bacterial infection, treatments for
cancer, insulin to aid diabetes patients, kidney dialysis, and the use of penicillin. Many more
discoveries have been made over the past century, enabling many diseases, which were once
life threatening, to be treated. Scientists have also been able to study cancer, AIDS, openheart surgery, artificial joints, Alzheimer's disease, organ transplants, and blood transfusions
by being able to study these diseases and procedures through animal testing. Over time,
humans have benefited immensely from the medical advancements made possible through
animal testing-an important process in obtaining research that has increased human life span
and greatly improved the lives of human beings.
Many believe that animal testing benefits only humans, when in fact this research
provides vital medical information that can be beneficial to animals as well. Through
biomedical research, scientists have been able to find cures and treatments for diseases that
affect animals. Animal research has lead to the development of the vaccines against rabies,
feline leukemia, anthrax and tetanus. Many studies conducted have also lead to discoveries of
treatments for cancer in animals, treatment of arthritis, controlling tuberculosis, and
controlling heartworm infection. In addition, many of the treatments found to work on
humans are later altered in order to treat animals. There are many diseases that can be cured
or treated in order to improve the life of humans, as well as animals: "[...] both humans and
animals suffer from diseases that cause years or even a lifetime of pain" ("Use"). Biomedical
research is imperative for medical advancements for both human beings and animals.
There are many factors that contribute to the ongoing argument about the morality of
using animals for biomedical research. When formulating an opinion about animal testing
and its justification, it is important to consider the benefits of the information obtained. The
research conducted has been essential to the medical advancements made over the years that
are responsible for saving millions of lives daily. Through animal testing, scientists have also
been able to discover new cures and treatments for diseases prevalent in animals as well as
humans. Research facilities are also required to ensure the safety and proper treatment of the
animals, in accordance with multiple laws passed in the United States to prevent the
maltreatment of animals. When all the facts are considered, it is the lack of compassion for
those suffering with life altering diseases, not the use of animals to improve and save the
lives of millions, which is inhumane.
Works Consulted
"Animal Research and Human Health." Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research.
1992.
"The Proud Achievements of Animal Research." Foundation for Biomedical Research.
2003.
"Questions People Ask About Animals in Research." The American Physiological Society.
2001.
"Use of Animals in Biomedical Research: Understanding the Issues." American Association
for Laboratory Animal Science. November 2003.
12th Grade Student
Trinity High School
Camp Hill, PA
It seemed as if a million molecules of formaldehyde were waging simultaneous
attacks on my nostrils as the wide, heavy door was pulled open; the air inside was thick with
the odor, and it choked me and burned my eyes. Goosebumps found their way to the surface
of my arms and cheeks, and chills from the cold room danced up and down my spine. They
were multiplied exponentially as I approached the two cadavers, their eyes covered with
gauze, looking so lonely and damaged on the cold steel lab tables. I closed my eyes as our
guide, a typical "mad scientist"-looking character, began to speak.
The initial impressions I had of the gross anatomy lab's atmosphere reflected my
original biased view of the process, something I viewed as necessary but somehow sinister-a
frozen tomb encapsulating only dead bodies and pungent vapors. However, my views were
quickly changed when I heard our lecturer and his students speak. I was amazed at the
immense and genuine respect they had for the individuals who had donated their bodies to
science, respect that translated into every interaction they had with the cadavers. It became
clear to me that my aversion to the gross anatomy lab sprung from that very concern, the fear
that those participating in the research (medical students in particular) did not appreciate the
sacrifice that the donors had made and might not treat their bodies respectfully.
It seems to me that many people who denounce the use of animals in research
subscribe to the same fears as I did, thinking that researchers inflict undue pain and even
death without regard to the lives of the animals. After seeing the care and diligence that was
put forth when researching on cadavers (which cannot even feel pain or die as a result of the
experimenters' actions), I can hardly conceive of any sane and stable human needlessly
harming an animal in the pursuit of research. With legislation like the Animal Welfare Act,
routine inspections of laboratories, rigorous pre-funding reviews of proposed experiments,
and general professional procedures, such an atrocity should never be allowed to happen. Of
course, the issue of animal experimentation will always generate mixed opinions; it is simply
an inevitable fact due to the polarizing nature of the argument. But the ethical dilemmas that
arise from the nonuse of animals in the lab, in my opinion, outweigh their counterparts.
Animals are not used in the lab to be tortured. They are meant to help find solutions
to problems that plague humans and animals alike, and they do a fantastic job. If it weren't
for lab animals, we might not have insulin for diabetics, vaccines for diphtheria, whooping
cough, canine distemper, feline leukemia, polio, German measles, hepatitis, or meningitis,
and we wouldn't be en route to finding one for malaria. We are in debt to lab animals for
helping to create drugs that greatly increase survival rates in certain cancers as well as those
that battle HIV and depression.1 Can we in good conscience halt research that could
ameliorate the suffering of so many people?
Some argue that certain uses of animals in the lab-such as testing for cleaning
products and beauty supplies-are frivolous and cruel. However, these uses account for only
about 3% of animal testing2 and are still extremely important, despite the fact that they may
not directly save lives. Safety testing is imperative to ensure that products are as safe as
possible for both humans and animals, and there is no feasible alternative (such as a
computer program or statistical model) that can simulate these tests. However, these
alternative measures can be viable in some instances, and should be utilized whenever
possible-this illustrates the theory of replacement, one of the three "Rs" that most scientists
subscribe to when it comes to animal usage in the lab. The other two are refinement of
experiments to reduce animal stress and discomfort and reduction of the amount of animals
used in studies.3
Nearly everyone likes and is sensitive toward animals and interested in promoting
their welfare, which is an extremely laudable goal and one that should be a top priority for
researchers. However, it is easy to be swayed by the fanatical rantings of extremist animal
rights groups, who capitalize on the good will, love, and empathy of the masses in order to
promote their radical and often illegal agendas. In the United Kingdom, scientists have been
intimidated, harassed, and even physically harmed by members of extremist groups like the
Animal Liberation Front, and research has been slowed.4 The United States has its share of
radical groups as well, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), whose
president Ingrid Newkirk claimed that "A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy," a sentiment that few
would agree with.
Animals are the most valuable resource in biomedical research, and the positive
effects of their use are immeasurable-they have saved lives, reduced suffering, and
contributed to nearly every advance in medicine. The appropriate and responsible use of
animals in a laboratory setting is imperative in the quest for knowledge about our world and
the ways that we can better it. We should praise research animals for the sacrifice they make
to save others, and allow them to continue to do so; in that way we will be able to appreciate
their immense contribution to society rather than focus on distasteful and demeaning
renditions of their lives.
1
Research Defence Society, http://www.rds-online.org.uk-Medical Benefits Timeline
Research Defence Society, http://www.rds-online.org.uk- Areas of Research
3
Americans for Medical Progress, http://www.amprogress.org - Animals in Research
4
BBC Hot Topics-Animal Experiments,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/animalexperiments/protests.shtml
2
Finalists
10th Grade Student
Council Rock High School North
Newtown, PA
To Whom It May Concern,
By outlawing biomedical testing, you may think that you are saving innocent animals,
but the truth is that you are putting the lives of many at risk. The argument that animal testing
for medical research is inhumane and immoral is completely misguided. There are laws in
place so animals cannot be treated heartlessly or unkindly and the information obtained
through biomedical testing is very often beneficial to the health of animals as well as to that
of humans. While animal testing may not exactly sound ethical, analyzing it further can aid
in a better understanding of why biomedical testing is so imperative to the health of our
world.
Practically every "major medical advance of the last century - for both human and
animal health" is owed to biomedical testing (Proud). It is agreed throughout the scientific
and medical communities that animal testing is an irreplaceable research option. Without it,
advances in medicine would be extremely complicated and it would be almost impossible for
doctors to accurately predict what effects different treatments, surgeries or vaccines may
have on people. Arguments against animal testing claim that computer-generated
experiments can obtain the same information as animal testing. This is just not the case.
Computers - a lifeless piece of technology can only do so much to predict; while animals,
being biologically similar to humans, can give much better insight as to how new medical
procedures will work when put to use in a real life medical scenario.
The animals used for biomedical testing are a necessity to the medical world. So, of
course, tests are done on healthy, happy animals, not frightened, hungry ones; the happier
and healthier the animals, the more accurate the prediction following the testing. This is why
scientists keep the animals well-fed and care especially for their well-being. They are not
kept in horrendous caging; they are not starving; and they are not crying out for help. The
animals are specially bred for testing and are not anyone's lost house pet or wild animal being
denied freedom. These animals are created to serve a purpose and their purpose is vital to our
modern society.
"Treatment of 100 kinds of cancer costs our nation an estimated $107 billion a year"
(Questions). Almost ten million Americans are alive today, after being cured of cancer. This
scary disease affects millions, all over the world, gradually killing them by overwhelming
their bodies through uncontrollable cell growth. Today, due to animal testing, "almost half
the people diagnosed with cancer will live at least five years, and some will never have a
recurrence of their disease" (Questions). This is compared to the one in five ratio of people
who survived cancer in 1930. Chemotherapy drugs, radiation therapy and surgical techniques
have made huge strides in the treatment of cancer in both humans and animals, and all of
these discoveries were first developed using biomedical research.
Animal testing for medical research has also uncovered treatment options for heart
disease - the number one killer of men, women and children in the United States. Techniques
to diagnose and cure many conditions of the heart have saved millions of lives thanks to
biomedical research. HIV/AIDS is another disease affecting almost one million Americans.
Although scientists have not yet found a cure, animal testing has led to a better understanding
of how the disease affects the body and what steps researchers can take to find a cure.
Penicillin and other antibiotics were discovered to cure bacterial infections using animal
testing as well. Bacterial infections were once horrifying because doctors did not know how
to stop bacterial organisms from infecting the body. Due to the discovery of drugs like
penicillin, common infections can now be treated easily with a prescription.
Sparing the lives of a few, over saving the lives of millions is, in fact, the heartless
idea. By outlawing biomedical testing, you are consequently putting all medical research at a
standstill. Where would medicine be if it weren't for all of the treatments discovered by
animal testing? Whether it comes to saving a mother, a father or a child, the advances that
biomedical testing promises are vital to medicine and cannot be outlawed.
Sincerely,
A Tenth Grade Student
Works Consulted
"Frequently Asked Questions About Animal Research." Foundation for Biomedical
Research.
"The Proud Achievements of Animal Research." Foundation for Biomedical Research 2003.
"Questions People Ask About Animals in Research." The American Physiological Society.
2001.
"Use of Animals in Biomedical Research: Understanding the Issues." American Association
for Laboratory Animal Science. November 2003.
12th Grade Student
Lower Moreland High School
Huntingdon Valley, PA
"Why Are Animals Used in Biomedical Research?"
Since Science News and Scientific American are two of my favorite magazines, I
often find myself reading articles about medical research based on information obtained from
experiments with animals. I distinctly remember reading one such article for my AP Biology
class about stem cell research. The article included a scanned image of a mouse whose
damaged heart had been treated with injected stem cells. I was surprised to see the
differences and obvious signs of improvement in the 'after' picture compared with the 'before'
picture. The researchers pointed out that a significant amount of the mouse's tissue had
regenerated, and that because this tissue had come from stem cells, it was a perfect genetic
copy of the existing heart tissue. One of the challenges scientists face in working with stem
cells is the problem of controlling exactly what kind of tissue these omnipotent cells will
develop. In a petri dish, it is relatively easy to manipulate the stem cell culture, but it is
nearly impossible to predict how the stem cells would behave in a living system. Although
there are still risks in stem cell treatments, the mouse that participated in the study showed
that under the right circumstances, stem cells could have healing properties. I realized that
research animals, such as the mouse in this study, provide scientists with invaluable
information that cannot be learned through any other form of experimentation.
Biomedical researchers have a wide variety of research tools available to them,
including molecular and cellular models, and in vitro experimentation. However, testing with
animals remains the most comprehensive method for determining the full effect of a new
substance, drug, pathogen, or surgical procedure on a living organism similar to a human.
New drugs are developed using animal research, and also must be tested on animals for
safety before they can be tested on humans and approved by the FDA. Animal testing allows
researchers to monitor an entire living system for side effects or other problems that could
not have been predicted through only tissue studies. Through animal research, scientists have
developed vaccines for smallpox, anthrax, rabies, tetanus, polio, and rubella. Through studies
of pigeons, scientists have been able to better understand the malarial life cycle, an ancient
disease that continues to affect millions of people. Using animals such as dogs, sheep, cows,
and pigs, scientists have studied organ transplantation techniques and learned about immune
system responses. It is almost unthinkable to imagine the modern world without these
medical advancements.
Of course, if animals are to be used in medical research, they must be treated with
compassion. Animal welfare organizations, as well as both state and national laws, ensure
that the animals that are helping us to develop the medical advancements that will someday
change the world are handled with care and respect. Researchers' efforts to treat animals as
humanely as possible can be summarized in the 3R's: reducing, refining, and replacing.
Scientists always try to reduce the number of animals needed in an experiment. For example,
one group of scientists used multiple brain slices from a single rat in a series of experiments
to study epilepsy. Also, experiments are refined, possibly through anesthesia, to minimize
any pain or discomfort experienced by the animals. Whenever possible, scientists try to
replace an animal experiment with other methods, like cell or tissue cultures. As biomedical
science is improving, these research techniques appear to be successful. Even though the
number of research facilities has increased, the numbers of almost all species of animals used
in research have decreased. About 90% of all research animals are specially bred rodents
(rats and mice), and the numbers of dogs, cats, and non-human primates combined add up to
less than one half of one percent of all animals used in research. Additionally, the number of
dogs and cats used in research has declined by 67 percent since 1979. Fortunately, as medical
techniques and technologies progress, the benefits of animal research will continue to far
outweigh the inevitable sacrifices. Someday it may even be possible to eliminate the need for
animals in research. But as Nobel laureate Sir Peter Medawar stated, "Nothing but research
on animals will provide us with the knowledge that will make it possible for us, one day, to
dispense with the use of them altogether."
Animals are used in biomedical research because of the life-saving applications of
this research in both human medicine and veterinary science. Many of the most important
medical breakthroughs of the twentieth century can be attributed to animal research, and the
medical advancements of the near future, maybe even including the development of stem cell
treatments, will almost certainly rely on animal research.
Bibliography of sources not provided by the Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research
Rosenthal, Nadia; Lanza, Robert. "The Stem Cell Challenge." Scientific American. June
2004. Vol. 290, Issue 6, p. 92.
10th Grade Student
Council Rock High School North
Newtown, PA
"Few tragedies can be more extensive than the stunting of life, few injustices deeper than the
denial of an opportunity to strive or even to hope, by a limit imposed from without, but
falsely identified as lying within." - Stephen Jay Gould, Biologist
From the time I was a child, I have always been taught to treat animals with kindness.
For many years I believed this meant that every animal should be free of anguish - that every
man, creature, or being deserves the opportunity to strive for a better life. However, as I grew
older, I realized that it is impossible to completely eliminate suffering. There exists a valid
need for some animals to be sacrificed to science for the greater benefit of all forms of life.
Some critics would ban the use of any animals for research to benefit mankind. They create
the false perception that we value life less through our use of animals for research - that
animal research is cruel and heartless. Should we allow this limit to be imposed? The use of
animals in biomedical research is not only regulated and humane, but it is also essential to
medical progress.
The foremost claim of the critics of animal research is that the practice is harmful to
the animals involved, but this is far from the truth. The scientific community strongly
supports animal welfare, and ensures the well-being of all the animals they use for testing.
Proper care of these animals is of the utmost importance for both humanitarian and scientific
reasons. Analgesic or anesthetic drugs are often used to ease the pain of animals in tests, and
often these tests do not involve pain at all. In addition, animal research is strictly regulated
and controlled by multiple federal acts and organizations. Even the most specific details of
animal testing are regulated by legislation: "Federal laws, the Animal Welfare Act and the
Public Health Service Act, regulate the alleviation and the elimination of pain, as well as
such aspects of animal care such as caging, feeding, exercise of dogs and the psychological
well-being of primates" ("Frequently"). These stringent controls have been guaranteeing the
well-being of animals for decades. The Animal Welfare Act, in particular, has been in place
for over forty years. This combination of scientific support for the well-being of animals with
federal regulations and organizations has resulted in a reasonable and humane method of
animal research.
Through this method, incredible progress in the field of medicine and scientific
research has been made that has benefited both humans and animals. Animal research has
played a major role in a surge of new treatments for harmful diseases. Directly evolving from
the availability of these new medications is the increase of the life expectancy in the United
States, which "has dramatically improved from an average of 49 years in 1900 to 67.6 years
in 2001" ("Use"). This increase in life expectancy is at least partially because of the
revolution in heart treatments brought on by tests on canines. The use of dogs in biomedical
research has led to invaluable developments such as heart transplants, open-heart surgery,
and pacemakers. Studies on dogs have also resulted in the creation of an insulin pump to treat
diabetics. Other debilitating diseases eliminated with the help of animal research include
polio, typhus, diphtheria, tetanus, and smallpox. Our pets are also benefiting from the results.
Thanks to animal testing, vaccines now exist for feline immunodeficiency virus and canine
parvovirus. The tremendous successes of animal testing have been invaluable to the
improvement of both human and animal lives.
Even with all the advancements made to date, there is still a hope and a need for
future achievements. Many fatal ailments still afflict mankind. Namely, the development of
cures for many infectious diseases relies heavily on the continuation of animal research:
More than 800 million people worldwide suffer from the debilitating and often fatal
diseases schistosomiasis, malaria, leprosy, leishmaniasis, and trypanosomiasis.
Animals are essential to developing ways to prevent and treat such diseases because
they allow researchers to measure the host response to disease-causing agents, as well
as the effectiveness and short and long-term side effects. ("Animal")
Measurements of certain parameters of treatment for these diseases, including side effects,
are only valid when tested on animals. This is primarily because many animals have short life
spans, which allows for timely measurements, and many are similar to humans, which causes
them to undergo comparable symptoms. The same qualities that make animal testing ideal for
use in the development of cures for infectious diseases would also aid research on cancer and
Alzheimer' s disease. Should we impose a limit on this method of research, which could
ultimately lead to the discovery of a cure for cancer?
The "stunting of life" is indeed a terrible tragedy. However, this tragedy does not
occur because of the use of individual animals in biomedical research. Rather, it is the
abolishment of animal testing that could stunt the lives of vast numbers of humans and
animals. The limitations on the hope for a world without human and animal suffering truly
are imposed from without the laboratory, not from within it. We must renounce the
presumption that animal testing is wrong or cruel. Otherwise, we are all denying ourselves an
opportunity - the opportunity for a world where disease no longer threatens the lives of men
and animals alike.
Works Consulted
"Animal Research & Human Health." Foundation for Biomedical Research. 1992.
"Frequently Asked Questions About Animal Research." Foundation for Biomedical
Research. 2003.
"Use of Animals in Biomedical Research: Understanding the Issues." American Association
for Laboratory Animal Science. November 2003.
Creative Category Winner
10th Grade Student
Council Rock High School North
Newtown, PA
J. Quackenbocker: Animal Activist
Jannik Quackenbocker, a 35-year-old painter, was sitting on scaffolding on the side of
a building, catching his breath after painting a slogan under a mural of the Peaceable
Kingdom: Stop Animal Cruelty. Ban Biomedical Testing. He felt unusually tired. Suddenly,
passers by screamed in horror as they saw a man fall off of the scaffolding onto the busy
streets of New York City. An ambulance arrived and rushed him to the nearest hospital.
When Jannik Quackenbocker awoke, he was in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines
that made various beeping noises. His right leg was in a full cast, and he could not move his
neck. When the doctor came in, Jannik asked, "What happened to me? One minute, I was
putting away my paintbrush, and now I'm trussed up in a hospital bed!"
The doctor replied, "Mr. Quackenbocker, you just survived a heart attack. We have
concluded that you have a severe form of heart disease. You probably need to change your
eating habits, take a few medications, and develop an exercise routine in order to return your
body to a healthier state."
"How can you tell what is wrong with me? You don't have superhuman vision," said
Jannik.
"Well, Mr. Quackenbocker, in order to arrive at a diagnosis, we used special
equipment and techniques that helped us look into your heart. We conducted
electrocardiography, and inserted a cardiac catheter into your heart through one of your
veins. These studies suggested that you have one severely blocked artery and we can fix it by
performing a coronary angioplasty. You are also suffering from arrhythmia, so we will need
to implant a pacemaker close to your heart.”
"Wait a second, you must have tested these procedures on animals first. Didn't you?"
"Yes, Mr. Quackenbocker, we did. Why do you ask? Do you oppose the use of
animals in scientific research?"
"Of course I do! I am an animal rights activist! Do you expect me to just sit here
while you are mistreating little animals in your labs right now? I demand to be let out of this
sickening establishment this very instant!"
Jannik Quackenbocker attempted to lift himself off of the hospital bed, but to no
avail. The doctor sat down and waited for Jannik to calm down.
"Mr. Quackenbocker, since you are in no condition to move right now, let me explain
to you some of the reasons why animals are used in biomedical research:
Medical researchers need to understand health problems before they can develop
ways to treat them. Some diseases and health problems involve processes that can
only be studied in a living organism. Animals are necessary to medical research when
it is impractical or unethical to use humans. ("Questions")
If we do not conduct our research on animals prior to treating humans, we could potentially
harm many human lives: 'Due to medical research, life expectancy in the United States has
dramatically improved from an average of 49 years in 1900 to 67 years in 2001' ("Use"). This
is why animal testing is essential.”
"Though that may be true, you medical people poke and prod around the insides of
these poor, defenseless creatures, which is a form of cruelty! I would like to hear you explain
yourself out of that hole," said Jannik.
"Though we perform various tests and procedures on our lab animals, we treat them
with the utmost care. We feed them very well, and try and make sure that they are as healthy
and comfortable as possible. Would you rather have us practice a new operating procedure
on animals first, or would you volunteer to let us experiment on your first-born child, before
we treat another human being? These are life-changing surgeries that we practice on the
animals - the ones that could determine if one lives or dies. These surgeries and treatments
not only benefit humans, but they also benefit the animals on which they are performed."
"Really? I didn't know that. I never looked at it that way. What other procedures have
these animals martyred themselves for?"
"Well, I will begin with the benefits of animal research on human health. We have
developed 'cognitive enhancing drugs' that slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease
("Proud"). We have also managed to eradicate smallpox, and we have been able to create
certain drugs that can shrink the size of cancerous tumors. In addition, we have developed
vaccines to fight HIV and AIDS. In animals, we have been able to perform heart transplants
for animals with heart problems, and develop drugs that can treat arthritis in dogs. I see you
are getting tired. You need to get some rest. "
The doctor left the hospital room. Three months later, the painter returned to his
mural and painted these words over his slogan: "The use of animals in biomedical research,
not the prevention of it, is the key to improving the health of society."
Works Consulted
"The Proud Achievements of Animal Research." Foundation for Biomedical Research.
"Questions People Ask About Animals in Research." The American Physiological Society
2001.
"Use of Animals in Biomedical Research: Understanding the Issues." American Association
for Laboratory Animal Science. November 2003.