Animal TestingControversy

To paraphrase18th-century statesman Edmund Burke,"All that is needed for the triumph ofa misguided cause is that good people do nothing." One such cause nowseeks to

end biomedicalresearch because of the theory that animals have rights ruling out their use inresearch.Scientists need to respond forcefully to animal rights advocates,whose

arguments areconfusing the public and thereby threatening advances in health knowledge andcare.Leaders of the animal rights movement target biomedical research because

it depends on publicfunding,and few people understand the process of health care research.Hearingallegations of cruelty to animals in research settings,many are perplexed

that anyone woulddeliberately harm an animal.

For example,agrandmotherly woman staffing an animal rights booth at a recent street fair wasdistributing a brochure that encouraged readers not to use anything that comes

from or is animals一no meat,no fur,no medicines.Asked ifshe opposed immunizations,she wanted to know if vaccines come from animalresearch.When assured that they

do,shereplied,"Then I would have to say yes."Asked what will happen whenepidemics return,she said,"Don't worry,scientists will find some way ofusing computers."Such

well-meaning peoplejust don't understand.

Scientists mustcommunicate their message to the public in a compassionate,understandable way一in human terms,not in the language ofmolecular biology.We need to make

clear the connectionbetween animal research and a grandmother's hip replacement,a father's bypassoperation,a baby's vaccinations,and even a pet's shots.To those who are

unaware that animalresearch was nee-- ded to produce these treatments,as well as new treatmentsand vaccines,animal research seems wasteful at best and cruel at worst.

Much can bedone.Scientists could"adopt"middle school classes and present theirown re-search.They should be quick to respond to letters to the editor,lestanimal rights

misinformation gounchallenged and acquire a deceptive appearance of truth.Research institutionscould be opened to tours,to show that laboratory animals receive humane

care.Finally,becausethe ultimate stakeholders are patients,the health research community shouldactively recruit to its cause not only well-known personalities such as

Stephen Cooper,whohas made courageous statements about the value of animal research,but all whoreceive medical treatment.If good people do nothing there is a real

possibility that anuninformed citizenry will extinguish the precious embers of medical progress.

From the text welearn that Stephen Cooper is________.

A.a well-knownhumanist

B.a medicalpractitioner

C.an enthusiast inanimal rights

D.a supporter ofanimal research