Medical Testing on AnimalsMedical testing on animals is a highly controversial topic that affects the lives of almost every individual, whether they realize it or not. 16 million people with diabetes enjoy lives they wouldn't have had without dogs, rabbits and fish that have been tested to help scientists discover treatments and produce insulin. Cardiovascular disease ranks high on the list of killer diseases in the United States. The procedures used to treat this condition, such as surgical techniques and therapeutic drugs, required the use of animal testing. These are just two examples. Any major medical advancement throughout history most likely involved animal testing as a necessity. There are many pros and cons to using animals for medical research, and many people have very different opinions about treating animals. Some have the best interests of animals at heart and disagree with any pain and suffering inflicted on them, regardless of the issue. Others argue that we should respect animals, but we should think about the well-being of humans first. There are those who do not care about the consequences caused by animal testing. This is a major ethical question on which everyone should form an opinion. My first negative experience with animals in the laboratory took place in a university human physiology course. We discovered the differences between the decentralized nervous system of amphibians and the centralized system of mammals by sacrificing your basic frog. The procedure involved decapitating the frog with a pair of scissors. No, there was no anesthesia. The frogs went from alive to headless with just one click of the Decatron 2000. As if it were a joke, we had to demonstrate the frog's loss of balance and inability to swim because...... middle of paper..... .treatments. The results of this study were obtained entirely through the use of lung tissue cultures from human cell washes. These are just a few examples of the wide variety of techniques used for animal-free experimentation. Alternative methods are progressing every day. Animal testing has brought very important medical techniques and products within our reach. However, the advantages and disadvantages are numerous and the subject will remain sensitive. As humans, we have a responsibility to respect and protect animals and each other. Think about your pet. Animals have personalities and feelings. Think about your loved ones. Humans need medical care to survive. This is a difficult question to decide. Human health is important, but we must strive to find ways to improve human health without involving helpless animals..