Ethics of Research involving animals
III. The scientific rationale for using animals in research and testing
Although the focus of this Report is on the ethical issues raised by animal research, we also need to consider scientific questions. For if it were the case that harmful animal research provided no useful knowledge or application, it would be difficult to see how it could be morally justified.
Similarly, it is important to assess which potential scientific benefits might have to be forgone, if animal research or testing in general, or in particular areas, were to be reduced or abandoned, and could not be replaced adequately by scientific methods that do not involve animals. The two principal questions which this Report seeks to clarify are therefore:
- does the scientific use of animals lead to valid, useful and relevant results in specific areas?
- is it permissible for one species to cause pain, suffering and death to another to achieve aims that benefit primarily the former species?
Across and within each area of research involving animals described in Chapters 5–9 the intended and realised benefits take a wide range of forms. Three main types can be distinguished.
- Advancing scientific knowledge
Some research, predominantly basic research, has no direct application and its primary purpose is to advance scientific knowledge about the way animals behave, or develop and function biologically. The study of basic physiological processes and genetic mechanisms also falls into this category (Chapter 5).
- Using animals as models for humans to study disease mechanisms and develop interventions
Animals are used as models for humans to understand disease processes and to develop effective preventative and therapeutic measures such as vaccines or medicines (Chapters 6–8). Some of these interventions may also be used in, or have been developed specifically for, animals. Such research often draws on findings from basic research.
- Animals as models in toxicity testing
Animals are used to test the safety of a range of compounds that are potentially hazardous for animals, humans or the environment (Chapter 9).
We begin our discussion with the assumption that whether or not research in these areas yields valid, useful and relevant results needs to be judged on a case by case basis. For practically all basic research it can be argued that data produced are valid insofar as it is conducted in a methodologically sound manner, since any such completed research project adds to the scientific body of knowledge (provided results are made reasonably available to the scientific community).
The controversies about the acceptability of basic research therefore focus primarily on its usefulness and relevance, and on the ethical question of whether it is necessary and justifiable, if it causes specific degrees of pain, suffering or distress to the animals involved (paragraphs 3.53 and 14.38). The question of validity, usefulness and relevance is more complicated when animals are used as models for humans, as the question of whether reliable extrapolations can actually be made from one species to the other, needs to be addressed. Accordingly, we consider:
- the biological basis for using animals as models for human diseases (paragraphs 4.8–4.10);
- examples of research where it has been possible to make valid and useful inferences (see forexample, Box 5.2, paragraphs 6.4–6.31, 7.7–7.8, Boxes 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3, paragraphs 9.5–9.7);
- examples of research where progress has been difficult (paragraphs 6.33–6.39);
- claims that the very concept of using animals as models for humans is flawed, misleading and dangerous because a small number of products such as medicines that have involved animal research and testing in their development were withdrawn from the market because of adverse reactions in people (Boxes 8.6 and 8.7).
Conclusion on the scientific validity of animal research and testing
We conclude that because of evolutionary continuities in the form of behavioural, anatomical, physiological, neurological, biochemical and pharmacological similarities between animals and humans there are sufficient grounds for the scientific hypothesis that, in specific cases, animals can be useful models to study particular aspects of biological processes in humans, and to examine the effects of therapeutic and other interventions.
In view of the examples of research considered in Chapters 5-9 we refute two commonly encountered generalisations about research involving animals that is undertaken with the aim of yielding results that are applicable to humans: (i) that all such research is directly applicable to humans or (ii) that no animal research has ever produced results that are useful and relevant to humans. Each type of research or testing has to be judged on its own merits (paragraph 10.46).
We therefore agree with the conclusion made in a recent Report by the Animal Procedures Committee (APC) that the scientific validity of animal experiments is:
‘a condition capable of being fulfilled, but has to be judged case by case and subjected to detailed critical evaluation.’2