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The Animal Research Debate
Author(s) -
FESTING SIMON
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the political quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.373
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1467-923X
pISSN - 0032-3179
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-923x.2005.00720.x
Subject(s) - parliament , animal testing , animal rights , bioethics , medical research , government (linguistics) , political science , animal welfare , engineering ethics , public administration , law , medicine , politics , biology , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , engineering
Animal rights extremism has encouraged the media to examine the benefits and justification of animal research. There is broad support from the scientific community and government for carefully conducted animal research; however, Parliament is hindered, as many MPs are ill‐informed. The recent Nuffield Council on Bioethics investigated the issue and determined that in carefully considered cases animal research is justified, scientifically valid, and has contributed to human health. The great majority of the public accept the need for animal research for medical progress when there is no alternative method available. Arguments used by anti‐vivisectionists are discussed, many of which are unfounded and based on misconceptions.