Some people are of the opinion that drugs used for humans should be experimented with animals first. Others, however, argue that it is cruel and inhumane. This essay attempts to shed light on both perspectives before concluding that I am in favor of the former one.
On the one hand, it is undeniable that using animals for medicine experiments is necessary. Firstly, animal testing contributes to life-saving cures and treatments for humans. Humans still rely heavily on animal testing to check the toxicity and safety of drugs. Covid-19 vaccine, which was tested on genetically modified mice first to ensure that the vaccine did not make the virus worse, exemplifies the importance of testing medicines with animals. Secondly, testing drugs on animals first may enhance the reliability and credibility since they share biological similarities with us humans. All mammals, including humans, are descended from common ancestors, meaning that we all have the same set of organs and are susceptible to many of the same conditions and diseases. Over many years, chimpanzees have been used to investigate advanced treatments for cancer and heart disease.
On the other hand, opponents of animal testing, myself included, argue that it is heartless and somewhat unreliable. Firstly, experimenting drugs on animals is inhumane and cruel, therefore should be banned. Animals used in experiments are commonly subjected to force feeding, food and water deprivation, or even the infliction of pain. And, most experiments involving animals are flawed, wasting the lives of animal subjects. Furthermore, animal testing does not reliably predict results in human beings. Despite bearing some resemblances, humans and animals are different in some ways, meaning that drugs that pass animal tests are not necessarily safe for humans. For example, the 1950s sleeping pill thalidomide, which was tested on animals prior to its commercial release, caused 10,000 babies to be born with severe deformities.
In conclusion, animal testing has undeniably contributed to significant medical advancements and provides a measure of safety for new drugs. However, I believe that animal experiments should be limited due to the cruelty inflicted on animals and the occasional unreliability of test results