How will medical progress take place in the absence of animal experiments?
Sheila from Aberdeen We want to see researchers using only human-based studies before trying out new drugs and medical procedures on people. In other words, based on the principle of primum non nocere, (first do no harm), scientists will do everything humanly possible to make sure new drugs and procedures are safe and effective before they try them out on actual patients. This will include cell and tissue culture tests, molecular studies, computer modelling, non-invasive clinical procedures, and any other method relevant to humans. Once such evaluations have been successfully completed, only then should researchers involve actual patients. It is to be hoped that regulatory bodies and ethical committees would approve clinical testing only of those new drugs and procedures that show promise of being significantly safer and more effective than their already existing counterparts. André Menache, Animal Aid The abolition of animal experimentation does not mean that society will have to give
