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Re: Cures for mental disorders

Posted by Shar on June 10, 2001, at 15:03:32

In reply to Re: Cures for mental disorders » John k, posted by Cam W. on June 10, 2001, at 9:25:37

Cam - NONE of my response is directed personally toward you. I'm talking about the topic and my opinions that have developed over the years; not at all criticizing you or your beliefs. Shar

> >It would be great to take a person (or animal, for that manner) and unravel their living brain in an MRI-like machine and see what happens as you separate component parts; but this is highly unethical and inhumane. Groups like PETA, while having good intentions, also cause restrictions to be placed on brain research (I am not denouncing the groups intentions, but I am against many of their methods).< <

I'm glad this subject was brought up, because it is rarely even mentioned on PB, PSB; and it certainly applies.

Groups like PETA, SPCA, NEAVS, Humane Society of the US, etc. hardly make a tiny dent in what is done to animals in the name of research. Nasty or nice, the groups aren't well-financed compared to the businesses of medicine, pharmacology, cosmetics, household cleaning products (ie, Proctor and Gamble); all of whom research on or test on animals. Then factor in university research and research by privately funded institutions, and the military--these groups are hardly restricted at all; they enjoy being able to do hideous things to animals supported only by a vague hypothesis.

The animal rights groups have mainly impacted how the animals are housed, size of cages (has to be large enough for animal to stand), exercise/elimination (animals must be taken out of cage x times per day; feces and urine should be removed from cages x times per day), feeding (must have nutritional food on a regular basis), water (must have clean water on a regular basis), dead animals should be removed from cages when discovered, and so on; also, things like using anesthesia during surgeries or local anesthetic if cutting is to occur on a smaller area.

"It would be great to...unravel their living brain in an MRI-like machine and see what happens as you separate component parts." There is really no reason to believe that isn't happening right now. Given enough money (public or private), just about anything one can think up can be done.

When we hear of animal research or testing, it is usually the Reader's Digest version, the kindly researcher who just hates to cause the dogs (or cats or chimps) so much agony, but 'human lives are at stake if we don't find out how long the dog can run on a treadmill in a 100 degree room with the heat rising at certain intervals, without water, and when muscle failure occurs, how long does it take 'it' to die? We'll time it from the start of the first fall. Make a note if it tries to get up again. And, if the results are x for this black lab, hmmm, I wonder if the results will be the same when we do it on that border collie.'

I know my meds were probably tested on animals, and I believe in some cases animal research or testing is one of very few viable options. I do believe the VAST MAJORITY of animal testing (esp. Draize test and LD50) could be eliminated safely. And, we shouldn't be too easily fooled into believing such research is foolproof...to wit: the famous Thalidomide fiasco and deaths in the more recent testing of a hep B vaccine, and all the human trials that fail (cause death or damage) but we don't hear about.

tree-huggin, animal-lovin
Shar


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