Animal experimentation: Are human lives above animal ones?​

This article I found in Gale International talks about animal experimentation, its contributions and consequences, the regulations it has and finally some alternatives to it. The writer presents animal testing from two points of view: for and against it. Further, he gives reasons for each opinion, even though he finally seems to agree with the idea of being against animal experimentation.

In my opinion, it all depends on what is animal testing being used for. I support animal testing if there is a real need, related with health, such the creation of a medicine or a medical treatment. If, on the other hand, the animal testing is just needed for the manufacturing of cosmetics, creams, or other non-essential products, then I’m completely against animal suffering.

Apart from necessity, we should think if being intelligent, aware and having power, gives us the right to hurt other species to not damage ours. In other words, are humans above animals? Is animal testing justified, just because human are above animal? Probably not, but we empathize more with other human than with a rabbit, a chimpanzee or a rat, so we put their lives at risk instead of ours.

In conclusion, animal testing might be justified if the objective is essential and a real necessity. But we must think about the real value of animal lives, and if our lives are really more relevant than theirs.