Humane medical research gets little mention in the media, yet it’s one of the most important subjects of our time. Not only is animal medical research cruel, but it’s also completely out-dated (and also less accurate and takes more time and money than humane research).
Not only is humane medical research light years ahead in terms of effectiveness (using a myriad of alternative methods from computer modelling to test tube research to brain scan imaging and human volunteers – both living and dead through donating bodies). But it’s also kinder, quicker and cheaper. And the best bet we hae to solve currently incurable disease like dementia, Parkinson’s, MS and motor neurone disease. And of course – cancer.
The Ongoing Campaign for Herbie’s Law
Herbie’s Law is an ongoing campaign presently going through Parliament, aiming to replace medical research with humane alternatives. Ruth Jones MP has tabled an Early Day Motion on behalf of Animal Free Research UK, inspired by a similar process happening in The Netherlands.
The campaign is named in honour of a beagle who was bred for the lab. He was one of the lucky ones, his grey chin hairs showing that apart from the telltale tattoo on his ear, he managed to escape, and ended up in a loving home (with the charity’s CEO).
Over 92% of drugs that show promise in animal tests, fail in clinical trials. Switching to humane methods of research is not just kinder, but more accurate.
The Story of Battersea’s Little Brown Dog
International Anti-Vivisection Congress, 1913
Around 100 years ago, only a few hundred (bad enough) animals suffered. The little brown dog (whose suffering caused riots between anti-vivisection campaigners and medical students) is now commemorated as a statue in London’s Battersea Park. Victorians led the way to found societies campaigning for alternatives.
What is Humane Medical Research?
It basically means using research to test and prevent disease. Currently, UK law says that all medicines (and this includes Botox – which is why some say it should be banned for cosmetic use as ‘cosmetic testing’ is now banned on animals in Europe) must be tested on animals, before being used on humans. This law bypassed once (to bring the vaccine to people during the pandemic, to speed things up.
Those in favour of vivisection talk of the three Rs. That stands to ‘replace’ animal testing with alternatives like computer models or cell cultures, Reduce (use fewer animals) and Refine (ensure better living conditions).
Of course this is a bit like the big cosmetics companies that used to say (before the ban on animal testing) that ‘we would use alternatives if they existed’. When they always existed, as many other companies never tested on animals in the first place. In fact, it’s a myth that medical research has to use animals, it does not.
It’s more politics and keeping the status quo. Humane research is far more accurate and less risky. Heart transplants were actually delayed due to inaccurate experiments on dogs, and despite decades of trying, vivisectionists have never managed to recreate HIV in monkeys, our closest living relatives. Although we share DNA with animals, we also share quite a lot of DNA with bananas.
Examples of Humane Medical Research
In today’s computer age and AI (artificial intelligence), we have more than enough scope to find cures without cramming innocent creatures in cages, and subjecting them to needless torture and death. Examples of humane research include:
- 3D bio-printed tumours
- Organ-on-Chips (these small devices mimic human organs)
- AI (artificial intelligence) which is also more accurate
- Patient-derived organoids
- 3D Cell Cultures (scientists grow human cells in layers)
Ethical Considerations
Animals undoubtedly suffer in vivisection labs. Whether that’s the physical act of experiments, the stress of being caged up or them not living natural lives. UK labs mostly experiment on rodents, but also some dogs, pigs, primates and other animals are used.
In the US, the charity Beagle Freedom Project adopts ex-vivisection dogs to new homes. You can find on YouTube heartwarming videos of volunteers removing their ‘numbers’ and giving the dogs names. On release, these dogs are terrified – but within minutes they are running around with their fellow dogs, smiling and sniffing grass for the first time in their lives.
Scientific Value
Studies using humane methods often deliver better results. Non-animal research tools like artificial intelligence or human cell models are more reliable for understanding human biology.
Traditional testing on animals doesn’t always apply to people. For example, a drug safe for rats might still harm humans. Humane methods bridge that gap by focusing on human-based models and cutting-edge technologies.
When you donate to humane research, you’re not just funding ethics; you’re backing smarter science.
Don’t Be Emotionally Blackmailed
This is the biggie. Because the second you decide to switch donations to humane medical research charities, the charities and nearly everyone else, will accuse you of ‘not caring about cancer patients’ or the often quoted ‘you care more about animals than humans’.
Actually, caring about humans should be about donating to charities that are using accurate methods, so this would also be donating to humane medical research. It’s a win-win.
If someone asks you to donate to an animal-testing charity, there’s no need to get into an argument. Just politely reply:
‘Thank you, but I have researched charities that test on animals, and now choose to donate to humane medical research’.
You can always donate anonymously to your favourite small charities, using Charities Aid Foundation. Add Gift Aid if you’re a UK taxpayer.
Animal welfare campaigner Karen Dawn once wrote how people would suggest that people who care about animals, ‘don’t care about humans’. Her answer was simple: compassion is compassion. It’s not like a pie. If you have compassion towards animals, it’s likely you have just as much compassion for humans, as you’re likely a kind loving person. ‘Giving kindness’ to animals, does not mean that you then have to ‘take away’ kindness to humans’.
When George Ansell (who founded a US organisation similar to the RSPCA) was once asked why he spent time being concerned about animals, when there was so much cruelty to humans. His answer was again simple. He replied ‘I am working at the roots’.
Humane Medical Research Charities
The sad fact is that it’s pretty easy, as nearly all the big medical charities still test on animals, so you simply switch donations to the handful of humane research charities that get no government funding and little media support.
Why don’t the big newspapers and TV news shows mention these charities more, instead of the same big animal-testing charities that use outdated methods, yet their ‘experts’ are always rolled out for interviews, despite humane research boffins saying that animal research is completely out-dated, compared to modern humane methods and tools?
Switch donations to one of the following charities, that do amazing work:
Another way to help is to arrange to donate your body to medical science, after your death. The more human bodies that researchers have, the better able they can cure diseases. Healthy bodies are important too (it’s important to compare say a healthy brain with that of someone who died of dementia).
easyfundraising is a good way to raise funds for free. It works with over 6000 brands (from ethical zero waste ones to popular brands like Amazon and Argos). Basically once registered, you choose your cause (in this case humane medical research) then that company donates, each time you buy something that you were going to buy anyway.
If you buy a phone online, it works the same – but the humane medical research charity will receive £5 profit from the phone, over the retailer. This service covers everything from train tickets to air fares and from refurbished laptops to insurance. So it’s a no-brainer way to raise vital funds. Just shop from the site or app, and each retailer pays a set fee or percentage, depending on their policy. Donations are sent to the charity every quarter, and using this service does not affect loyalty points.
