Frequently Asked Questions
Aren't the 3Rs ("Reduce, Refine and Replace") the best way to phase out animal experiments?
The 3Rs (“Reduce, Refine and Replace”)
are based on the assumption that experiments
on animals, though unpalatable, are scientifically
valid, leading to cures and treatments for human
disease. Proponents of the 3Rs advocate reducing,
refining and replacing animal experiments with
'alternatives'. The principle has merit
in theory - though not in practice - from
an animal welfare perspective. However, it makes
no scientific sense because if a practice does
not work, there is little point in reducing or
refining it. The 3Rs have unfortunately become
a smokescreen, which allows the continuation
of animal experiments to seem acceptable - as
long as the 3Rs are applied. The industry could
not have devised a better PR campaign.
Those who endorse the 3Rs and Alternatives promote the 'necessary evil' view
of animal experiments. They maintain that each type of experiment - of which
there are millions - is, regrettably, necessary until it can be replaced by
an Alternative. This perpetuates both the practice and the myth that sustains
it. Animal experimenters claim that each and every experiment must be
assessed on a case-by-case basis for scientific validity and justification.
However, science tells us otherwise:
- Applying knowledge gained from animals to humans harms humans most of the time (see A Critical Look at Animal Experimentation for many examples)
- Intractable differences between species mean that animals cannot 'predict' how the human body will respond to a disease or a drug. Their use violates the most fundamental principle of biology: evolution. Therefore the 'animal model' paradigm should be rejected as unscientific.
The 3Rs serve to deflect attention and debate away from the very real issue of the scientific validity of animal experimentation. While appearing to focus attention on concern for the welfare of laboratory animals, those promoting the 3Rs avoid entering into dialogue on the justification of using animals as models of human disease. The scientific literature of the last 100 years or so reveals sufficient evidence to demonstrate that using animal data in medical research is misleading and often dangerous.
Science already has a wealth of superior (not
'alternative'!) human-based methods at its disposal.
They are responsible for the medical care we
enjoy today and are the only way
to prevent, cure and treat human
illness - yet many are starved of funds while
animal experimentation is highly funded. The
animal experiment lobby maintains that animal
experimentation is an expensive business - it
is. But it is not just costing society enormous
sums of money, it is costing us far more in terms
of human health.
Society need not fear that abandoning animal experimentation would mean giving
up medical progress. On the contrary, it would ensure greater safety for patients
and volunteers in clinical trials and a higher probability of finding cures
for human illness. For more information, please see What Will We Do If
We Don’t Experiment on Animals? Medical Research for the 21st Century (Greek & Greek,
Trafford 2004).
