Week 4 Discussion Forum

Animal research is a necessary practice in the world of medical research, allowing scientists to develop life-saving interventions and to spot catastrophic problems before new techniques or products make their way to actual patients. However, this does not mean that we should deny that there are serious ethical issues involved.

Animal testing is not a pretty or pleasant process. It causes pain and suffering to animal subjects, and legitimate cases of abuse have been uncovered by animal rights groups. Consequently, the practice should be tightly regulated, and alternative methods should be employed whenever possible.

• Discuss a specific research study involving animals that had ethical issues.
• What were the ethical issues involved?
• What could have been done to conduct the research study differently to avoid these ethical issues?

Week 4 Discussion Forum Answer (2)

 In April this year, authorities in Madrid, Spain suspended the operation of the firm called Vivotecnia after videos leaked showing animal abuse. The firm is engaged in animal research for biotechnological, pharmaceutical and tobacco companies. It also has two existing projects funded by the European Union. The video footages, released by a whistle-blower who worked at the firm between 2018 and 2020, show conscious rats having blood drawn from their eyes, monkeys being smacked and circumcised, and rodents being operated without anaesthesia (Guardian News and Media, 2021).

Week 4 Discussion Forum Answer

Recently, protesters flooded the University of Massachusetts Amherst for alleged unethical use of animals in research, specifically marmosets. The protesters are claiming that the use of marmosets is senseless because the goal of the study is to analyse changes on human cognition brought about by menopause and marmosets do not experience menopause.