Human Participants and Vertebrate Animals Rules and Policies GROUP - 2WHY IS IT IMPORTANT OR REQUIRED FOR A PERSON TO BE AWARE OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL RIGHTS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS DURING RESEARCH EXPERIMENTS? Human and animal rights awareness in research experiments is critical for sustaining ethical standards, protecting vulnerable groups, assuring the validity of research findings, and contributing to responsible and socially beneficial knowledge growth. To conduct research that is both scientifically rigorous and ethically sound, researchers and institutions must prioritize these factors.The concept of human and animal rights in research experiments is rooted in ethical considerations and the recognition of the moral and legal rights of both humans and animals involved in scientific studies. These principles have evolved over time and continue to be the subject of ongoing debate and refinement. Here is a brief background on the concepts of human and animal rights in research experiments: 1. Human Rights in Research a. The Nuremberg Code (1947): Established ethical principles for human research, including informed consent, voluntary participation, and minimizing harm, following World War II's Nuremberg Trials.b. The Declaration of Helsinki (1964): Emphasizes ethical review by research ethics committees and has been revised multiple times, serving as a foundational document for human research ethics. c. Informed Consent: Is crucial for human research, requiring participants to be fully informed about the study's purpose, risks, and benefits, and voluntarily agreeing without coercion. d. Ethical Review: Ethical review boards or Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) oversee research involving humans to ensure that it adheres to ethical standards and safeguards participants’ rights.Human rights in research experiments refer to the fundamental ethical principles and legal standards that protect the dignity, autonomy, and well-being of individuals who participate in research studies or experiments. These rights are based on the recognition of each person's inherent worth and entitlement to certain protections when involved in scientific investigations. Ethical research practices follow human rights principles, ensuring participants’ rights are respected and upheld.These principles include informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, non-discrimination, beneficence, protection of vulnerable populations, data sharing, transparency, accountability, oversight, international collaboration, and social impact. Researchers must prioritize participant well-being, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure data sharing, transparency, and oversight. Ethical research positively impacts society by generating knowledge that contributes to human lives and respects the dignity and rights of all involved individuals.2. Animal Rights in Research a. The Three Rs Principle: The Three Rs acronym stands for Replace, Reduce, and Refine, introduced by Russell and Burch in 1959, promotes animal reduction, alternative methods of substitution, and improved experimental techniques to reduce animal suffering. It encourages reducing animal numbers, substituting alternative methods, and improving techniques to minimize animal suffering. b. Laws and Regulations: Several nations have put in place laws and rules that control the use of animals in research. These rules frequently demand that researchers seek permissions, adhere to strict welfare standards, and defend the need to employ animals in their study.c. Ethical Considerations: Ethical frameworks in animal research place a strong emphasis on reducing harm, assuring humane treatment, and taking animals’ welfare into account. This covers suitable shelter, food, and care. d. Alternatives to Animal Testing: To lessen the reliance on animals in research, efforts have been made to develop and promote alternatives to animal testing, including in vitro cell culture, computer modeling, and tissue engineering.Animal rights are significant in research experiments because they raise ethical, legal, and scientific considerations. Balancing the pursuit of knowledge with the ethical treatment of animals is an ongoing challenge that researchers, institutions, and policymakers must address to ensure that research is conducted in a humane and responsible manner. Animal rights activists stress the necessity of minimizing animal suffering in research operations. Ethical criteria like as the "3Rs" encourage the use of alternative methods, fewer animals, and the improvement of experimental procedures. Legal safeguards and scientific validity are essential for obtaining reliable study results. Public opinion shapes regulations and financing, and alternative approaches such as in vitro testing and computer modeling can limit the use of animals. In order to balance scientific knowledge with animal welfare, it is critical to balance interests.REPUBLIC ACTS IN THE PHILIPPINES REGULATE HUMAN AND ANIMAL RIGHTS IN RESEARCH EXPERIMENTS 1. Republic Act No. 8495 - Animal Welfare Act of 1998 This act sets forth guidelines for the treatment of animals in research and experimentation, including the requirement for ethical approval and the humane treatment of animals used in research. 2. Republic Act No. 10631 - National Health Insurance Act of 2013 While not specifically focused on research, this act is relevant to human rights as it aims to provide health insurance to all Filipinos, ensuring access to healthcare, including medical treatment for research subjects.3. Republic Act No. 10354 - Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 This act is related to human rights, particularly reproductive rights and healthcare, which can be connected to research involving reproductive health and family planning. 4. Republic Act No. 9711 - Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 This act regulates the conduct of clinical trials for pharmaceutical products, ensuring the rights and safety of human participants in these trials.5. Republic Act No. 7305 - Magna Carta of Public Health Workers While not directly connected to research, this act protects the rights and welfare of public health workers who may be involved in research activities. 6. Republic Act No. 11332 - Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act This act is important in the context of public health research as it establishes a reporting system for health events and diseases, ensuring the protection of human health rights. Upholding rights for both animals and human rights in research experiments is vital. It is possible to advance scientific knowledge while respecting the ethical treatment of animals.Thank you!