• Question: do you ever test on animals? :'(

    Asked by iizninja to Antonia, Douglas, Hugh, Matt, Tom on 14 Jun 2010 in Categories: . This question was also asked by jakeronson, 9willj, jadee, robynmay, kathakins.
    • Photo: Matthew Hurley

      Matthew Hurley answered on 13 Jun 2010:

      I haven’t done experiments using animals. However I have read in scientific journals other people’s experiments using animals and these can be very useful. This is a thorny subject and sometimes difficult to weigh up what is right. As a doctor I use drugs that have been tested on animals. As a patient, I’ve had immunisations and drugs that have been tested on animals. What do you think – is animal testing ALWAYS a good or a bad thing? Does it matter which animals? Does it matter what you are trying to find out? Does it matter if there is an alternative?

    • Photo: Douglas Blane

      Douglas Blane answered on 13 Jun 2010:

      As a physicist and engineer I wouldn’t normally need to do experiments on animals and I haven’t. As a vegetarian and bit of a Buddhist I wouldn’t, even if I was asked to. I don’t deliberately hurt or kill any animals for any reason.

    • Photo: Tom Hardy

      Tom Hardy answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Never, I don’t do that kind of testing. I’ve tested a few things on myself but never animals 😉

      I’m a huge animal fan and campaigner for organic produce and free range meat. In the past I have rescued battery caged hens and given them a new free range life in the country. I don’t agree with animal testing, but I’m sure other scientists would argue that it is necessary to save human lives. It’s a big ethical debate. But I certainly don’t agree with it for cosmetics and beauty products.

    • Photo: Antonia Hamilton

      Antonia Hamilton answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      no, I only test people (mainly undergraduates!). But I read a lot of studies which have tested animals and have learnt a lot from them. There are some things we can only learn from animal studies and the studies that are done are very closely regulated. If studies on 100 mice can show us how to cure a form of childhood blindness, is that worthwhile?

Comments