Animal rights and research
You are a lab technician working at a highly regarded university. While undertaking your duties you have become aware of the fact that a research student, regarded by many in the field as a rising star, has been failing to follow guidelines for the proper treatment of animals used as subjects in experiments.
In one case at least it appears that the animal may have suffered avoidable pain and you have reason to believe that other animals are continuing to suffer.
Upon discussing the issue with a colleague you discover that the researcher is close to a breakthrough that could revolutionise the treatment of a debilitating human disease and potentially save many human lives.
Ethical questions:
- What are the issues?
- Who are the stakeholders?
- What should you do?
- What would you do?
Leave your comments below.
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Comments
Too tired for a full exposition, but as a simple principle I don't think group A can justify inflicting suffering on group B unless group B justified it, is compensated for it, or benefits from it.
Essentially, it doesn't matter if the human race is facing extinction and the last hope is in this experiment - if the test animal won't benefit from it then putting them through suffering cannot be justified.
Thoughts? This does seem to conflict with my utilitarian approach, but too tired to reconcile them.
Posted: 2 September 2011 - 3:31am — GYoung