The Use of Animals in Medical Research

Throughout the latter part of the 19^th century, and all of the 20^th century, activist groups continued to escalate their efforts toward the construction of animal rights laws. Once enacted, however, they found that the well intentioned animal welfare laws went largely unenforced; that is, until the activists began to literally create criminal media events, which highlighted the animal abuses that were still going on (Francione & Carlton, 2002). By the close of the 20^th century, the two groups were at a virtual standoff. Vital research for a whole host of tragic diseases was being held up by the often violent, and always well publicized, activities of groups who labeled the use of any animal in research as a violation of animal welfare laws.

More recently, this situation seems to have begun to be diffused, somewhat, as the medical research community has begun to take positive action toward resolving the issues about which the animal rights activists are so concerned. For example, the University of Wisconsin has formed a Research Animal Resource Center (RARC), which has, in turn, developed an entire training program to be taught specifically to University of Wisconsin students who will be involved with animal research in any way (Carlson, 2004). This course is comprehensive, covering both academic and practical issues surrounding the use of animals in research. Students practice, supervised, in real laboratories, with real animals. They learn that the university has a policy to never abandon a researcher who is unsure of himself or herself by providing expert assistance the instant any researcher calls for help, even if it is only with a piece of equipment. Since this program has been recently published, it is expected that it will serve as a model for other university and hospital laboratories that engage in research involving animals.