Ray Greek, MD, Americans
For Medical Advancement (AFMA)
The bottom line is that simply too many individuals benefit from the status quo and hence no one wants to rock the boat. We realize this sounds cynical but the facts are the facts.
There is a wealth of scientific evidence and supporting theory verifying the
inefficacy of the practice of using animals as predictive models in drug and
disease response. Yet the practice continues. Why? The reasons are many and
varied, and they have little if anything to do with science.
The animal-based research engine is fueled by the same forces of human nature
that have harmed people since the dawn of time: ignorance, greed, ego,
self-preservation and fear. Add to that inertia and blind obedience to the
system, and you have the perfect formula for keeping this multi-billion-dollar
industry thriving. Consider:
Many scientists have been experimenting on animals for years and have
published the results in hundreds of articles in professional journals, much to
their career and financial success. To them, the system isnít broken. Why fix
Add to that the huge and highly profitable business that has been built
around animal-based research. Animal breeders as well as suppliers of cages and
instruments designed specifically for use in animal studies depend on the
practice of animal-based research for their continued growth and profitability.
The U.S. government also plays a role in maintaining the status quo by
mandating animal testing as a way to determine the safety and effectiveness of
pharmaceutical drugs. The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, passed in 1938, and other
such legislation requires proof of the scientific safety of new pharmaceutical
drugs and a number of chemical compounds that change the chemistry of the body
before they can be marketed.
The bottom line is that simply too many individuals benefit from the status quo and hence no one wants to rock the boat. We realize this sounds cynical but the facts are the facts. We invite you to study the subject and come to your own conclusions.
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