Part 1: The Evidence

In my own investigations into the use of animal testing for the purpose of medical advancement, I've been reading through the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and the European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, which was implemented in the United Kingdom and other Member States from 1 January 2013.

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) regulates procedures that are carried out on protected animals‘ for scientific research and testing that may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm.

Protected animals are vertebrates and cephalopods.  There must be an Animal Welfare and Ethical Review board who should consult with a named veterinary surgeon. 

The principles of the "3 R's" (see below) must be followed. 

There is a lot more to the Act, which can be read using this link.
 
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/animal-research/



I've read through Cancer Research UK's pages:

Progress would not have been possible without animal research.

Testing on animals is an unavoidable part of their efforts to beat cancer and it is a legal requirement in this country that all new drugs are tested on animals before they're given to patients to make sure they're safe to use.

They don't fund any research on monkeys, dogs or cats.

Nearly all testing focuses on mice, fruit flies, microscopic worms and zebra fish.

Mice are remarkably similar to humans in terms of their genetic make-up.

The 3 Rs -

1. Reduce the no. of animals used

2. Refine the research so that animal welfare is improved

3. Replace the use of animals wherever possible.

http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2011/06/21/animal-research-is-helping-us-beat-cancer/

I've read The Royal Society's pages:

"Virtually every medical achievement in the past century has depended directly or indirectly on research on animals"

The Royal Society endorses the 3 Rs.

http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/

Animal Aid:

http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/campaigns/experiments//281//


There are a lot of things that come under the umbrella of animal-testing, things like putting a flea collar on a beagle and watching the live fleas for 15 minutes to the LD50 test (Lethal Dose 50), which is the dosage necessary to kill 50% of the animals tested after a specified test duration.  Some seem quite innocent, others are horrible.

I've read pros and cons, organisations for and against, and I've made my decision.

Please read my next blog ....... Part 2:  The Verdict