Ethical Use of Animals

Abstract

Based on old nursery rhymes, which are still in vogue, it is apparent that children from an early age receive ambivalent messages concerning relationships with animals. It is also apparent that we as a society have placed a hierarchical structure on animals; it is clear that we value a dog or a cat more than a mouse or a rat.

Enormous strides in the prevention and treatment of disease have been made directly or indirectly as a result of experiments carried out on animals. Persons who conduct investigations using animals have an obligation to ensure that valid scientific questions are being explored, and that the minimum numbers of animals are used compatible with achieving a valid scientific result. Animals must always be cared for properly. Research involving induction of pain must receive particular attention. Finally, it is incumbent upon all scientists who use animals in their investigations to ensure that the public is kept fully informed of all scientific advances made by the use of animals.

Keywords

Animals Ethics.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ( 1992). Subchapter A-Animal welfare. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, Publication No. 311-364/60638.

Foundation for Biomedical Research (1988). The use of animals in biomedical research and testing. New York: The Foundation for Biomedical Research.

Foundation for Biomedical Research (1992). Animal research & human health. New York: The Foundation for Biomedical Research.

Gallup GG Jr , Beckstead JW (1989). Attitudes toward animal research. Inst Lab Animal Resources News 31:13-15.

Genesis 8:6-12. The Holy Bible. Revised Standard Version. New York: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1953.

Hendee WR , Loeb JM , Schwarz MR , Smith SJ (1988). Use of animals in biomedical research-the challenge and response. AMA White Paper. Chicago: American Medical Association.

Jerrold W , editor (1987). The big book of nursery rhymes. New York: Portland House.

Keefe FJ , Fillingim RB , Williams DA (1991). Behavioral assessment of pain: nonverbal measures in animals and humans. Inst Lab Animal Resources News 33:3-13.

Kolberg R. (1992). Animal models point the way to human clinical trials. Science 256:772-773.

10.

Moses J. (1989). Administration, education, and the animal care committee. Proceedings of the Administration, Education, and the Animal Care Committee, 9-10 March 1989, Boston. Boston: PRIM&R, p. 99.

11.

Nicoll CS , Russell SM (1991). Mozart, Alexander the Great, and the animal rights/liberation philosophy. FASEBJ 5:2888-2892.

12.

Singer P. (1991). Animal liberation. New revised edition. New York: Avon Books.

13.

US Department of Health and Human Services ( 1985). Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, NIH Publication No. 86-23.