Sample from SSABSA
Should experimentation on animals for medical benefits be permitted?
Introduction
The issue of vivisection, that is, animal experimentation, is highly controversial because animals evoke very strong emotions in many members of the public. Animal lovers claim that experimentation on animals is a cruel and fruitless activity. However, many in the medical and related fields argue that experimentation on animals is crucial to finding medical cures for human beings. This vast difference in opinions concerning animal experimentation has prompted me to research into the question:
In order to answer my question adequately, my study focused on:
• The case for animal experimentation
• The case against animal experimentation
• The laws and legislation in Australia
• Possible solutions to this issue
1. The Case For Animal Experimentation
• Background on the case for - show graph of types of animals used
• Relevance of experimentation
• Benefits for humans - examples of medical breakthroughs
• Public expectations - show survey results
• Example of future cures and inventions of medical machines
2. The Case Against Animal Experimentation
• Background on the case against
• Moral and ethical argument
• Irrelevance of experimentation
• Difference between animals and humans
• Unreliable testing - eg. thalidomide
• Discovery of medicines/drugs without the aid of vivisection
• Multi-million dollar industries behind vivisection
3. The Laws and Legislation in Australia
• Guidelines - show survey results
• Problems with the law
4. Alternatives and Other Solutions
5. Conclusion
Evidence in my research shows that, for the present, experimentation on animals for medical purposes has the support of the government, and a large section of the public, and should therefore be allowed to proceed, but under strict guidelines. However, the arguments put forward by antivivisectionists to ban animal experimentation are gaining favour and support from the general public, and perhaps in the not too distant future, there will be a total ban on vivisection.
6. Invite Questions from Members of the Class
http://www.ssabsa.sa.edu.au/support/english/2esl/2esl-tl-vivis.doc