Psychology Case

The usage of non-human participants during medical researches bring about many different opinions. Although in modern day, animal testings are used in a way where suffering is minimized, some may still consider it unethical. Experiments were done years ago when researchers tend to examine animals without anaesthetics because anaesthetics were not discovered until the mid-nineteenth century. Vivisection, meaning 'cutting up of a living animal', increased in numbers in 1800 due to physiological experiments. An example of a very disturbing experiment where most anti-animal testing groups highly opposed to was by physiologist Robert Boyle where he used his 'pneumatick engine' on kittens to publicly show the effects of a vacuum on them. Among popular non-human participants for experiments are rats, dogs, frogs, cats and many more. Some animals are tested for medicine, genetics and even cosmetics. Another unethical example would be in the case of Huntington's research experiment where puppies were treated cruelly while taking blood samples. Experiments where animals are tested by causing pain to them and the animals were merely used to gain new experience for operating purposes are very unethical.

Animal experimentation by scientists these days are fully aware of their responsibilities. The modern society are taught to follow thoroughly what is known as the 'three Rs' of modern research (Russell & Burch 1959). Replacement, as the first R, for whenever there are other alternatives or techniques where the use of animals for scientific purposes can be avoided. This is when researchers have to follow on from an active development of alternatives than animal testing. The second R, reduction, where a minimal use of animal must be kept during any experiment when necessary. A reduction in the number of animals used, less amount of pain inflicted on animals. Teachings involving the use of animal testing should never be repeated unless essential and the number of animals used must be kept to a minimum. Third R is known as the refinement; laboratory and field techniques to reduce invasiveness and/or to increase the value of results. Meaning, appropriate measurements of the biological health of animals has to be considered and monitored before using them for experiments. Managing and taking care of the animal has to be done according to the species of the animal and their needs.

A study that explores the behavioural effects of a new anti-psychotic drug using the adult rat model for schizophrenia

For the case of using drugs on animals, it is considered as toxicology study usually done by pharmaceutical companies. Several tests would be conducted on test animals, in this case, rats, where the lethal dose to kill 50% of test population is evaluated. For ethical issues and animal rights, investigations on behavioural effects of the new drug has to be done by personnel