The ethics of animal research

Abstract

Thinking people have debated the use of animals in biomedicine for more than a century. The debate centers on a concern for the rights of animals, indeed, whether rights accrue to animals. Biomedical research has accrued great benefits from the use of animals, but at a cost. The position offered in this paper is that animal research must continue, but that it must be controlled with meticulous experimental design, concern for the well being of the animal and reduction of the numbers of animals that are used.