ANIMAL RESEARCH T A K E S LIVES
- Humans and Animals BOTH Suffer
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USA DOCTORS SPEAK OUT AGAINST VIVISECTION |
PHYSICIANS, SCIENTISTS, AND OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
REJECT ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION
An Open Letter to the American People
We represent thousands of concerned health professionals who oppose animal experimentation (vivisection).
We'd like you to know why.
False Promises, False Claims
The biomedical research industry's claim that our health and survival depend on vivisection is patently false. Animal experiments fail to address the true causes of human disease. Our illnesses are a result of numerous factors - lifestyle, environmental toxins, genetics, poverty, etc - which cannot be recreated in animals. In fact, information derived from animals is misleading and often dangerous when applied to humans.
Historically, clinical practice with astute deductive reasoning has resulted in the major health improvements. The discovery of penicillin and digitalis, the development of x-rays, the microscope, and hygienic principles for infection control are just a few of the examples that owe nothing to animal experimentation. To justify its consumption of public health resources, the vivisection industry credits itself with important developments, but in reality:
No Miracle Cures
People and animals alike suffer from the futility of vivisection:
"It is impossible to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion in regard to cancer in man by experimenting on animals."
Robert Bell, M.D., Vice President, International Cancer Research Society.
Vivisection Squanders Scarce Health Care Dollars
The U.S. spends $600 billion per year (12% of our GNP) on illness treatment - more than any other country in the world. Yet our health care system is in shambles.
The U.S. has a higher infant mortality rate than 22 other developed nations. Tens of millions of Americans have no access to health care. Trauma, mental health and drug rehab centers are closing for lack of funds. Efforts to rid the environment of disease-causing toxins are severely underfunded.
Vivisection is Unspeakably Cruel
Behind the locked doors of thousands of institutions, atrocities are inflicted on frightened animal subjects. They have no rights, no voice or representation, and no way of escape.
Breeding farms, public pounds, and stolen pet dealers provide an endless supply of innocent victims. For example, millions of animals a year die painfully for useless product testing just to provide liability protection for manufacturers.
Biomedical "research" is a vast, lucrative industry, supported each year by $15 billion in taxes and charity... while killing 65 to 100 million animals. Animal experimenters guard a privileged status with an enormous financial network of charities, and control the Federal agencies for health science funding. This multi-billion dollar industry is self-perpetuating, self-monitoring and self-congratulating. Meanwhile our healthcare system is self-destructing.
All our energies and resources must be committed to productive endeavors such as preventive medicine and research methodologies which relate directly to human beings including ethical human-based research, human tissue testing, and population studies (epidemiology). It is time to embrace ways of living and learning that are self-sustaining, non-polluting, and respectful of all life. Only then will our health-care goals be realized.
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(Ack: K. Ungar and S. Stewart, U.S.A.)