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Experimentation on Animals

Does it violate the Halach against animal cruelty?

Synopsis

In favor of animal testing

In favor of animal testing

Animal testing is appropriate because it allows the discovery and development
of medications that improve people’s quality of life.

Against animal testing

Against animal testing

Humans are not superior to animals.
Animals cannot speak or function in the same ways humans do,
but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel pain and suffering.
Human suffering isn’t worse than animal suffering.

In favor – only for life-saving purposes

In favor – only for life-saving purposes

In circumstances where animal testing can lead to saving human lives
– for example, by developing cancer treatments –
one must find a way to minimize animal suffering
while going ahead with the experimentation.
It is wrong to cause animal suffering for purposesthat will not save human lives
– for example, cosmetics.
Read More >
sources

Summary

Does experimenting on animals violate the Jewish law against animal cruelty (tza’ar ba’alei chaim)?Whether to do scientific experiments for medical purposes, causing pain and suffering to animals

The Edited Issue

  • michael barmatz

    Opening Discussion Opening Discussion (צפיה בדעה במקור)

  • Josh Sussman

    I think you should be allowed to test on rats and fish but not other animals or humans. I think you should be allowed to test on rats and fish but not other animals or humans. (צפיה בדעה במקור)

  • Josh Gans

    Animal cruelty is a terrible thing and it should be regulated. Risking the lives of any creature for testing is… Animal cruelty is a terrible thing and it should be regulated. Risking the lives of any creature for testing is inhumane, whether it's a human or a bug. (צפיה בדעה במקור)

  • Matt Gluck

    Animal testing for humans is necessary. However, we must do what we can to keep animals as safe put them… Animal testing for humans is necessary. However, we must do what we can to keep animals as safe put them in the least danger possible while still making the scientific advances that are integral in keeping humans safe. (צפיה בדעה במקור)

  • Matt Gluck

    An estimated 26 million animals are used every year in the United States for scientific and commercial testing. Animals are… An estimated 26 million animals are used every year in the United States for scientific and commercial testing. Animals are used to develop medical treatments, determine the toxicity of medications, check the safety of products destined for human use, and other biomedical, commercial, and health care uses. Research on living animals has been practiced since at least 500 BC. Proponents of animal testing say that it has enabled the development of many life-saving treatments for both humans and animals, that there is no alternative method for researching a complete living organism, and that strict regulations prevent the mistreatment of animals in laboratories. Opponents of animal testing say that it is cruel and inhumane to experiment on animals, that alternative methods available to researchers can replace animal testing, and that animals are so different from human beings that research on animals often yields irrelevant results. Read more background... (צפיה בדעה במקור)

  • Matt Gluck

    What is animal testing?

    What is animal testing?

    (צפיה בדעה במקור)

  • Matt Gluck

    About Animal Testing About Animal Testing (צפיה בדעה במקור)

Main Sources

Rambam on Animal Cruelty

Guide for the Perplexed Part 3, Chapter 48

Linked Issues