Final Draft of Rational Argument

 Animal testing has helped ensure many of our most vital medical treatments are effective and safe. Animal testing has been critical in numerous historical discoverers one of which being the Polio Vaccine. Both Dr Landsteiner and Dr Popper made a critical discovery by injecting monkeys with a strand of the polio disease. Subsequently they gained critical information to learn about how the vaccine transmitted through others and the methods on how to treat it. After over 40 years of research using both monkeys and lab rat’s professor Albert Sabin was able to develop an effective cure that was later distributed to millions. Now the polio disease is just one of the many examples in which the use of animal testing has benefited the public. Another prime example of this which I’m sure we all remember was the COVID 19 pandemic. Due to the various discoveries in medical technology scientists where able to develop a cure in record time. In less than a year with the help of various animals such as mice and pigs they aided in understanding the effects the disease had on humans as well as the effectiveness of the vaccines.

While animal testing has been proven to be effective when it comes to developing vaccines there are some limiting factors that activist argue that prove the ineffectiveness of animal testing. Dr Richard Klausner a former director of the US National Cancer institute portrays excellently by highlighting how animal testing isn’t what its shaped up to be: “The history of cancer research has been the history of curing cancer in the mouse. We have cured mice of cancer for decades and it simply didn’t work in human beings” (Cruelty Free International). With how frequent animals are used throughout vaccine testing it's easy for scientists to find cures for animals however when they attempt to transfer it to humans the results aren’t the same. By partaking in these events, it wastes both money and the lives of animals without any effective treatments to show for it.

While there are compelling arguments for and against animal testing, it is important to strike a balance between the potential benefits to human health and the welfare of animals. One way to do this is to use the three Rs approach which was developed by Russel and Burch to cultivate the development of alternative methods to animal testing. The 3R’s campaign was introduced to the public to “uphold its obligation to humanity to further the advancement of science for civilization” (Hajar). It advocates the search for the replacement of animals with non-living animals, the reduction in the use of animals and lastly the refinement of animal use practices. One may argue Why not just cut back completely. Although this potentially will be a solution down the road currently it would greatly set back the development of various medical treatments. With the introduction of various diseases such as COVID 19 it is vital that we have a system in place where scientists can develop cures and fulfill there moral and ethical obligations. Without these standards it's easier for others to bend the rules in their favor and potentially cause unnecessary harm.