Animal Testing: Compassion on the Path to Cure

A few years ago when I heard the term 'animal testing', I thought it had something to do with using products on animals. I did not understand why people were so against it. In my mind, I thought animal testing meant using make-up products on animals. 

So imagine my surprise when I got to know the real concept of animal testing is to force animals to go through various scientific procedures such as inhaling toxic fumes, force-feeding harmful chemicals, and applying chemicals to their bodies in the name of research. Most of the animals are killed after an experiment.

How did the practice become so popular?

 Animal testing goes way back to the twelfth century when physicians used to test surgical methods on animals before performing them on humans. Somehow, everyone around the world thought it would be a great idea to incorporate this into various scenarios like medicines, make-up products, and even food testing. 

Proponents of animal testing argue that without this practice, humankind could not have advanced in the medical field. They think that animal testing has made it possible for humans to find the cure for many deadly diseases. Those in favor of this practice also argue that it is better to test on animals than on humans.

Why is Animal Testing bad?

Some people fail to see that, like humans, animals can also feel pain. When an animal is taken from its natural habitat and thrust into a cage, it can feel. When an animal is put through various experiments, it can feel. When an animal's limbs are torn apart while it is still alive, it can feel. Animals are not asked before they are experimented on, and neither do they sacrifice themselves for the betterment of humans.

Moreover, animal testing is not 100% efficient. While humans and animals share some characteristics, we are genetically very different creatures. What works on animals may not always work on humans. About 94% of the drugs that pass animal testing fail the human and clinical trials which shows that we put the animals through pain for nothing. 

The result of animal testing can be misleading. A few years ago, a medicine called Vioxx, was launched to treat arthritis. It was tested on animals, and while it worked on animals, the medicine caused thousands of death before it was pulled off-market. The reverse also happened, aspirin is toxic to animals but it works like magic for humans. 

This can also mean that animal testing is preventing us from discovering cures for many diseases. Just think about how many drugs were not developed because they are not effective on animals. We will never know if those drugs could be effective for humans.

Alternatives to Animal Testing

Science has taken us to the moon, it has also given us alternative methods of animal testing. In Vitro testing, for instance, is a method where samples of human cells are taken from the human body. It provides faster and more effective results than animal testing. Bioprinting is an amazing technology that can be used to grow organs for testing drugs. Artificial human skin can be used to test not only drugs but also cosmetic products.

Unlike animals, there are human volunteers who would willingly sacrifice themselves for the betterment of humankind. During the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers did not wait to see how well the vaccines work on animals, they skipped that part and went directly to see how well the vaccines work on humans to be more efficient.

What can be done?

The total elimination of animal testing is not possible now. Animal testing should be allowed in the medical field only when it necessary and researchers should explore the new cruelty-free technologies before using this inhumane practice. The government should also ensure that no companies, except medical ones, use animal testing. Meanwhile, we should start using cruelty-free products to encourage more companies to stop animal testing.