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Animal experimentation is, overall, an ethically sensitive subject. During the time there have been long discussions regarding this matter. Some people are absolutely against, others are defenders and others stay in the middle.
When we talk about animal experimentation we mean the use of animals in scientific research. By using them, scientists are able to further understand diseases that affect both human and animals, new medicines and/or new surgical techniques.
Animal experimentation follows guidelines and there is legislation for it, although it is not entirely developed/applied worldwide, such as Africa, where it is commonly used despite the fact that the legislation in the field is scarce.
Focusing in the European Union (EU), the use of animals for scientific purposes is regulated under the Directive 2010/63/EU which aims to replace all animal research with non-animal methods of research, such as organoids or through computer simulations. In other words, it is used when there are no valuable alternative method not requiring the use of animals presenting equally valid results.
3 R’s Principle
This principle is used to Replace, Reduce and Refine animal experimentation:
Replacement - methods that prevent or help replace the use of animals;
Reduction - methods that help reduce the number of animals used in experiments;
Refinement - methods that help minimize any pain or distress and improve animal welfare.
Species
The selection of the species depends on the type, aim and method of the research. This selection takes into consideration the use of the species least able to experience pain and suffering, always balanced with the capacity to obtain relevant results.
In this case, the origin of the animals matter: they MUST have been specifically bred for research purposes.
Examples: rabbits, dogs, non-human primates, zebrafish, frog, rats, mice.
Procedures
Not every establishment is accredited to perform animal experimentation and it has to be part of an authorised research project.
Additionally to the 3 R’s principle, the methods used are constantly improving.
Example: it was used a non-invasive monitoring of vital functions in rats by using a 'special-jacket' (click to know more).
Another important issue of animals rights debate centres on the question of the moral status of an animal.
People against animal experimentation for scientific purposes defend the moral status of an animal regarding feeling pain and the right to enjoy life. However when needed, most of them use drugs that were tested on animals.
Defenders usually argue that animals cannot be considered morally equal to humans, thus not having the same right and that the benefits from it overweighted any animals rights violation. However there is also a middle ground which relies on the 3 R’s principle and balance between advantages and disadvantages.
It is still noticeable an huge lack of alternative methods to fully substitute the use of animals in research, if they will ever be replaced at all. As so, it is vital to control their use. Around the world, the laws are more or less developed/applied depending on the regions, consequently, it is important to alert for this situation in order to contribute to significant improvements in animal experimentation.
References
The Ethics of Animal Experimentation – HOPES Huntington's Disease Information (stanford.edu)
Non-invasive monitoring of vital functions in rats (eara.eu)
Amanda R. Hau, Faisal A. Guhad, Margaret E. Cooper, Idle O. Farah, Ouajdi Souilem, Jann Hau, Chapter 7 - Animal Experimentation in Africa: Legislation and Guidelines: Prospects for Improvement, Editor(s): Javier Guillén, Laboratory Animals, Academic Press, 2014, Pages 205-217, ISBN 9780123978561, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-397856-1.00007-6.
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