Animal testing

[GarethB]

I will see what I can do for you Sweet.

[Sweet]

Hehe this all sounded fun so i started a new post asking for staff! LOL!!

Sweet X x X

[Louise Pembroke]

I referred to the problems with ethics committees Andrew, but in relation to mental health not KC research.
All laudable points here, but there remains other forms of testing which do not require animals, are they being utilised to their full potential?
I never supported dogs being forced to smoke because smoking is a choice, and why should animals suffer for our life choices.
It's hard not to imagine that we have enough tried and tested chemicals now for all beauty and toiletry products, so why don't we stick with all the products we have now, don't increase the range, so that no more are tested to make new products.
When it comes to medications and procedures that's so much harder, transplants, lenses, drops, I don't think I could handle being a ginea pig for any of those, and I'm grateful for what I've been given. I just don't want to see anything done unless it's really neccessary, and as a last resort, with humans being asked whether they would be prepared to participate. I don't want to see the cruel treatment of animals in labs either, as I said before, if we have to do some as a neccessary evil then the least we can do is treat the animals with respect and not let them suffer.

[Andrew MacLean]

Louise

I do not disagree with anything you have said. Indeed I should think that the people who work in medical research with animals would agree too.

I think that my bottom line is that as a non-vegetarian I am anxious to know that the animals that die to provide food have lived with as much dignity as possible, and died in as humane a way as possible.

I guess that as someone who derives medical benefit from experiments done on animals I am entitled to ask for the same things: that the animals used in research are treated as humanely as possible.

Andrew

[Louise Pembroke]

I wouldn't disagree, you have no less entitlement than me or anyone else

[Andrew MacLean]

Thanks.

One thing we ought to never forget is that these questions are and will always remain importnt, not just for the ethicist, nor even just for the researcher or the government bodies that contr=ol research on live animals. The questions are important for every member of the community.

Andrew

[Sweet]

Very true as while some are really against animal testing the results do sadly benefit all of us. I just hope that it is carried out humanely and with respect.

Sweet X x X

[ChrisK]

I'm going to go against the grain here as I am completely against animal testing.

As species we are all different and as such a test on a dog or parrot would bring about completely different results. Similarly Paracetamol which was mentioned earlier is highly poisonous to cats.

Our closest relative the chimpaneze is immune to diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis. A 5 year trial of the aids vaccine based on succesful chimpaneze testing thus proved to be a failure.

We're just too different and whether it be a mouse, a dog, a rat or a monkey we all feel pain.

[Louise Pembroke]

Good points Chris, I can't see the point either in doing tests on animals for diseases we have, which they are immune to.