1. Animal Testing: Good, Bad or Ugly?
Yurry Buckler & Alyssa Coleman

2. Purpose of Animal Testing
To gain basic biological knowledge
Fundamental component of medical research
Aids in the discovery and development of drugs, vaccines and medical devices
To aid in the manufacturing of cosmetics

3. Arguments Against Animal Testing
It is morally wrong to kill animals for educational purposes.

4. Arguments Against Animal Testing
Animals are not an accurate model of humans
Humans anatomy differs from that of laboratory animals
Humans mature differently than laboratory animals

5. Arguments Against Animal Testing
Animal testing is barbaric
7% of experiments are classified as causing significant pain that was not relieved.
Many of these animals receive tests for substances that will never see approval for public consumption or use…therefore many animals die in vain because no direct benefit to humans occurred.

6. Arguments Against Animal Testing
Too many animals are killed
According to PETA “more than 100 million animals every year suffer and die in cruel chemical, drug, food, and cosmetic tests, biology lesson, medical training exercises and curiosity-driven medical experiments…”
Animal testing is expensive and public money should not be used for it
Costs include: feeding, housing, caring and treating animals sometimes over the course of months

7. Arguments in Favor Of Animal Testing
Medical professionals support animal research
2006 survey found 96% of general practitioners surveyed agreed animal testing has made important contributions to medical advances11
Same survey found 88% of general practitioners surveyed felt that recently developed medicines should be tested on animals before human consumption or testing

8. Arguments in Favor Of Animal Testing
Animal testing is greatly regulated
IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) supervises the scientific use of animals
Declares regulation
Accepts or denies scientific usage proposals
Inspects lab animal facilities
Strives to save animals from unnecessary testing and use, requiring quick and effective pain relief
IACUC’s regulations must be complied with for all laboratory animal use in America

9. Arguments in Favor Of Animal Testing
Animal testing is greatly regulated
Also regulating animal testing are:
The Public Health Service
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
The Animal Welfare Act (as amended in 1985)

10. Arguments in Favor Of Animal Testing
Animal testing has contributed to important gains in human medicine and biomedical research
Contributed to advances in psychotherapy, neuromuscular disorders, Parkinson’s disease, open heart surgery, organ transplants, effective insulin, and vaccines for deadly diseases.

11. Questions to Ponder If Con Animal Testing
What is your proposed alternative?
Human testing? No testing? Computer simulations and models are not always accurate.
Has the medical field progressed to a point where it can stop developing medicines, medical devices and new treatments?

12. Questions to Ponder If Pro Animal Testing
Are humans morally superior to all other beings?
Should we be able to cause pain, maim and kill other beings for the betterment of our society?
Do we have the right to end the life of animals to improve and save the lives of our own species?

13. References