Use of Non-Human Primates in Pharmaceutical Drug Research
We have spent some time in this module exploring the ethical treatment of research subjects. This becomes a complex issue when dealing with human participants. This is also a complex issue when we discuss research that involves animals who cannot give consent. The student learning outcome for this module which is one of your program learning outcomes states that students will be able to - Summarize the complex ethical dilemmas faced by scientists as they pursue research, examine how the research may impact individuals, communities, and society across the globe and provide solutions to these problems/issues. This essay assignment will give you an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of this outcome. Please keep it in mind as you construct your essay and be sure to address all the portions of the outcome in your work. The work you do in this assignment will assist you in mastering the course/module outcome 3.
For this assignment, you will write a 1500 – 2000 word (6-7 pages) essay that fully addresses the following. You should bring in at least 5 additional sources beyond the assigned readings that may apply. Use the Excelsior Library Research Guides and One Search tools to find appropriate academic sources.
This assignment is due during Module 1.
Steps in writing your essay:
1. Select one area of scientific research (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, therapies, surgical procedures, etc), which uses either human subjects or animal subjects. Identify this choice in the title of your essay.
Example: Since my choice is research on drugs being tested on plants; the title of my essay will be: Regulating drug therapy research using plants: can it or should it be done?
Create a research question fully articulating what aspect you will explore. Do not just say “The ethics of research on humans” this is WAY too broad.
Example: Are the current regulations governing plant pharmaceutical experiments enough to assure full compliance around the globe? OR: Are the after care regulations for plants that participate in drug research sufficient and consistent around the world?
3. Your topic must focus on the ethical dilemma involved. Nothing is just good or bad. There are multiple aspects to be considered. Give equal time and attention to BOTH sides.
Example: The benefits from plant research are many, including medical discoveries that save countless lives, food production initiatives and products such as Biofuels. The research on plants has a negative consequence in the pain and suffering inflicted on these organisms. How do we balance these two aspects? How much and when should the individual’s suffering be overlooked for the common good? How much suffering is too much?
4. Identify and explain the complex ethical dilemmas faced by the scientists you have selected as they pursue this type of research.
5. Describe how the research impacts individuals, communities, and society across the globe.
6. Examine the possible solutions to these problems/issues that have been proposed and how or if they are working.
7. Construct a conclusion based on the facts and ideas you have uncovered in researching this topic and apply your own ideas to the solving this problem.
Use of non-human primates in pharmaceutical drug research
Name:
Institution:
Course:
Tutor:
Date:
Use of non-human primates in pharmaceutical drug research
Introduction
Before any drugs can be passed as safe for use by human beings, they are normally subjected to vigorous tests and some of the tests may involve the use of the closest species to humans which are non-human primates. To achieve this, pharmaceutical companies have laboratories where they maintain such primates and administer various test drugs to the animals as a way of testing their viability and safety before they can be used by human beings (Bailey, 2005). It is estimated that more than 100,000 primates are used every year in pharmaceutical experiments in the US alone. Since non-human primates share many psychological and biological attributes with humans, most scientists prefer to use them in pharmaceutical experiments. According to Bailey (2005), animals are in most cases used to test the effects of a particular drug on the human body as well as testing the drug’s nature and chemistry. Moreover, animal testing can be used to test the speed of excretion of a drug from the body, the drug toxicity, the chemical breakdown of the drug in the body as well as the rate of absorption of a particular drug in the blood. Animals can also be used to test medical devices, especially when it comes to bio-compatibility. The use of animals in pharmaceutical experiments has always been a controversial subject considering the perceived ethical implications of such experiments. This research seeks to evaluate whether the existing justification in the use of non-human primates in pharmaceutical research for drugs that would have a negative effect on humans is enough to warrant continued use of these animals?
Complex ethical dilemmas faced by the scientists using non-human primates in research
Scientists have the responsibility of coming up with new drugs and interventions for various illnesses and diseases, but the process of developing these drugs sometimes leaves them in an ethical dilemma (Baumans, 2004). Most of the pharmaceutical experiments that involve non-human primates are normally very terrifying because the animals being used are subjected to painful invasive procedures and the fact that most of them end up dying in the process. The fact that the primates are just used like any other laboratory equipment is very unfortunate and the abusive nature in which the animals are treated during pharmaceutical experiments is very unethical (Baumans, 2004). The non-human primates are in most cases imprisoned in the laboratory cages before they can be used in experiments and this amounts to different forms of deprivation such as separation from natural homes and families. This kind of experience is traumatic because the primates are used to live in the forests where they move freely and interact with their families. While in the forests, the animals can play in the fields, swim in the rivers, swing in the trees and eat a variety of foods, but this kind of luxuries can not be found in laboratory cages. The barren confinement leads to psychological stress and a large number of these animals end up exhibiting abnormal behavior. Most of the animals resort to self-mutilation as a result of social isolation. Baumans (2004) argue that that harming or killing of innocent animals appears to be something unethical, but the scientists have no choice but to use the animals in their pharmaceutical experiments.
According to Carlsson et al (2004), scientists have to use animals with similar characteristics to a human being in order to test their drugs and avoid producing drugs that may need up harming human beings. For instance, a drug that kills a primate has the capability to kill a human being and that is why it is better to test it on an animal and make the necessary adjustments and corrections before it can be administered to human beings. Bailey (2005) observes that it is unethical for researchers to release drugs to the market without proper testing because it might end up harming humans or causing the animals to die. Some of the painful experiences that primates face during these experiments, including forcing of tubes down the throats and nostrils of the primates in pharmaceutical tests as well as infecting primates with diseases in order to test vaccines (Baumans, 2004).
When it comes to pharmaceutical tests, the primates are normally exposed to a lot of trauma and anguish because without their consent, but the scientist have no choice but to do the tests. In most instances, the primates are infected with dangerous diseases such as HIV and this might lead to serious neurological disorders, breathing problems, devastating organ failure and acute weight loss among primates (Carlsson, et al, 2004). It is unethical to intentionally infect a living organism with a disease, but scientists have to do that in order to develop vaccines that can save lives. The non-human primates have to suffer or die in pharmaceutical experiments ...