The use of animals in medicine

Since the beginning of medical practices, animals have been used for experimentation and
development of new medical techniques; From the research of cures for deadly diseases to the
evolution of new vaccines. Animals have played a very important role and the results have been
listed as one of the most beneficial in the medical history of mankind. Can the use of animals in
medical research be justified? the use of animals for medical research and drug development is a
fact that has been criticized for decades mainly in modern society, but another real fact is that
almost the entire medical community agrees that the use of animals for this purpose is a necessity.

Since the beginning of medical research have been using mice for different purposes, thanks to
these research the survival rates of cancer has increased; Trastuzumab (herzeptin) a humanized
mouse protein, has helped increase the survival rate of cancer patients; a fact that could not have
been obtained without research on mice. Animal testing has helped to develop vaccines, such as
against polio, tuberculosis, meningitis and, recently, the human papillomavirus, which is linked to
cervical cancer.

Alternative studies should not be overlooked. There are several alternatives for the use of animals
such as the replacement, which uses methods that avoid the use of animals in experimentation,
for example, in vitro, computational methods and the use of organisms with less sensitivity, such
as invertebrates, protozoa or plants. Although alternative methods to animals play an important
role, they can not completely replace the use of animal experimentation.

While the use of animals for medical developments is acceptable, they should only be used when
there is no alternative. It is very important that its use is duly regulated and authorized by a
competent entity that evaluated that the possible benefits do not overcome the possible suffering
that can be caused to the animals, that protects endangered animals and large mammals such as
chimpanzees and monkeys
It is clear that without the use of animals in medical research, modern medicine would not exist,
cures for many diseases, vaccines, analgesics and various medical treatments. Accordingly, if we
choose not to use animals, we should also abandon any modern medical treatment, so I consider
acceptable the use of animals, as long as it is properly regulated and there is no alternative to its
use.