Friday, March 20, 2020

Medical Research on Animals Should be Forbidden by Law

Medical Research on Animals Should be Forbidden by Law Introduction Historically, humans have used other animal entities for testing potential foods and medicine in order to gain insight on what may be appropriate for them. The Early man tested herbs by allowing his domesticated animals to eat them to find out whether the herbs were poisonous or not.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Medical Research on Animals Should be Forbidden by Law specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He also allowed his domesticated animals such as dogs to drink water from streams before he drank incase the waters were contaminated or poisonous. Progress towards the modern day in vivo testing or animal testing traces its origin to this practice by the Early man. Throughout man’s existence, the path towards progress has wrought the need for testing of various elements concerned with humanity’s existence on other non-human animals, and the results subsequently used to gauge the suit ability of the tested substance on humans. Medical researches on animals, animal testing, animal experimentation or in-vivo testing involve the use of live and living animals for medical experiments whose results are used for man’s beneficial purposes. Many pharmaceutical firms, laboratories, farms, universities, medical schools and research centers breed animals of different species within their premises for experimentation purposes. Sometimes the animals used are captured from the wild and tested in the laboratories or customized environments depending on the purpose of a given experiment. Modern day animal testing occurs in the fields of biomedicine, psychiatry and genetics. There are scientists and organizations that are against animal testing arguing that, such tests in the medical field render progress retrogressive. Such criticism is based on the notion that most results on animals cannot be extrapolated to humans; thus, such research is not only time wasting and misle ading, but also unnecessarily cruel on animals, and should be outlawed. However, much of the bio-medical, behavioral medicine, and medical genetics breakthroughs of the past century have been achieved due to animal testing/experimentation, and as such animal experimentation in medicine is beneficial and critical for human well being and progress. Animal experimentation and bio-medical progress Many of vaccines for various diseases, which previously led to the deaths of a large number of people in societies, in the past, were developed after first being tried on animals to test their efficacy.Advertising Looking for research paper on health law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Presently, researchers all over the world are busy trying to develop vaccines for contemporary diseases such as Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) such as HIV/AIDs and even cancer (Levinson and Reiss 12). These vaccines and other possible cures, true to humanity’s predisposition, will first be tested on animals such as rats and guinea pigs. Vaccines developed in the past for diseases such as small pox, tetanus, polio and other such diseases, which caused the deaths and deformation of children in the past centuries, were developed after being rigorously tested on animals. Indeed, not only are these animal testing experiments necessary, but also highly critical for the continued sustenance of the human race. Researchers cannot simply begin trials on these vaccines on humans before intensive testing on animals shows their potential benefits when extended to humans. The vaccines are subsequently subjected to rigorous trials with a small sample human population and then depending on the results, are approved for use on the general population (Levinson and Reiss 15). Therefore, due to experimentation with animals, researchers were able to develop vaccines for disease such as small pox, polio, chicken pox an d other such diseases that would otherwise lead to much human death and suffering. The treatment of diabetes with insulin was developed through research on dogs, from which insulin was first isolated. Thus, without the benefit of testing the efficacy of the vaccines on animals to begin with, humans would continue to suffer and die, and such medical breakthroughs would be achieved after a much longer period. Presently, researchers are hard at work trying to develop a vaccine against cancer. Many trials on laboratory animals such as rats and guinea pigs are showing positive results, and thus with continued research a vaccine for one of modern day’s most devastating diseases may be found, and humanity will have made a significant medical breakthrough partly enabled by the legality and suitability of animal experimentation. Animal Experimentation and Progress in Behavioral medicine: Psychology and Psychiatry In the field of behavioral medicine, experimentation with animals has en abled for significance progress in the understanding of various mental states, mental diseases and other such psychological afflictions of humans. Through animal testing, behavioral scientists have been able to understand the mental functioning of the human brain, the stress triggers, pleasure points and other such weighty pointers that when properly understood by man can make him lead a more fulfilling and stress stressful life (Cunningham 20). Experiments with lab animals such as rats provided psychologists with insights on the importance for personal space in reducing the probability of stress in people. This given research showed that whenever rats were housed in cubes that offered little personal space for movement and general activity, their stress levels went up, and the stress levels reduced accordingly when researchers reduce the number of rats within a cube.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Medical Research on Animals Should be Forbidden b y Law specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A similar research with monkeys showed similar trends (Cunninghum19). This research lead to reforms in various places like offices, prisons, and classes, where officials concerned strived to create more space in order to reduce levels of stress in persons, in the various contexts mentioned. Psychologists have also used animals to study the activity of the brain trough scanning the brains of various animals. Various practiced behavioral concepts, such as reinforcement and reward for positive behavior, and punishment for negative behavior, especially as concerns raising human children, trace their origins in experimentation with animals. The famous Russian behavioral scientists Ivan Pavlov used dogs to explain the concept of classical conditioning, a seminal concept that enabled individuals to understand and explain their own behaviors and repetitive habits. Therefore, the field of behavioral sciences has made significant steps towards understanding the behavior of man due animal experimentation. Animal Experimentation in Medical Genetics In order to understand the human genetic arrangement, genetic diseases and conditions, scientists and researchers use animals, specifically the rat, whose genetic composition is most similar to that of man. Scientists have thus been able to study about the dangers of inbreeding, the benefits of early genetic testing to preclude certain genetic diseases that can be passed on from parents to their children, and better understand the gene-related behaviors and actions of humans. Human understanding of genetics through testing in animals has enabled scientists to make progress in other scientific fields. For instance, through genetic manipulation of plant and crops, scientists have been able to grow drought resistant crops that can be used to feed people living in drought prone areas where food crops do not normally survive drought. Such crops thus fee d thousands of people whom in the absence of selective breeding, would have suffered starvation and death, especially in developing countries. Genetically modified foods are also used to feed populations throughout the world, filling a gap that would have existed had humanity chosen to rely on organic foods, which are dependent on the elements of nature only. Therefore, the study of medical genetics, via experimentation with animals, has enabled humanity to use this knowledge and extend it to other fields such as crop production, and the development of medicines extracted from genetically modified plants and animals. The Alternative View There are scientists, animal welfare organizations and other concerned parties who are of the view that medical research on animals is unethical, cruel and unnecessary and thus should be forbidden by law. Proponents of this view have launched various campaigns to highlight the cruelty that some animal species are subjected to in the human quest for medical knowledge and advancement (Doug 252).Advertising Looking for research paper on health law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Furthermore, these animal welfare organizations argue that animal life has intrinsic value and should thus not be sacrificed at the expense of human life, or human progress in medicine. Additionally, proponents of the banning of medical research on animals state that, the results of medical research on animals should not be extrapolated to humans, because human beings and animals are different, and a specified set of trial results on animals does not mean that similar results will be achieved in humans. However, as discussed in this paper, these concerns and views of the proponents of the banning of medical research on humans need not take this rather extreme view that such research should be banned altogether. The first concern concerning cruelty inflicted on these animals can be corrected through researchers being cautioned and trained in handling the animals in as gentle and painless manner as possible (Eckholm 25). The animals involved in such research can thus be given pain all eviating medicine, and incase the experiment procedure renders the animal life unviable afterwards, are euthanized in a painless and straightforward manner. Concerning the extrapolation of animal experiments to human, this view is hardly supported by the numerous data and research results that show that results of medical experiments on animals have historically (and even in contemporary times) been successfully replicated in humans. Conclusion Medical research on animals has wrought numerous benefits to humanity. The medical fields of biomedicine, behavioral medicine and medical genetics have all progressed and recorded significant gains due to research first conducted on animals. As discussed in this paper, the benefits of medical research on humanity far outweigh the concerns as stated by proponents of the outlawing of animal experimentation. Vaccines and treatment regimes for various diseases that previously led to the death of humans were all discovered through research on anim als. Currently, research on animals guides the attempt to find a vaccine or cure for cancer and AIDS. In the field of behavioral medicine, psychiatric diagnoses and evaluation, and a better understanding of the psychological functioning of the human brain have also benefited from animal experiment. Research on genetics in animals has also enabled humans to prevent certain genetic diseases from being spread to human offspring from the parents, and such research has also been extended to plants, leading to the growth of appropriate plant species for to sustain human life even in areas with harsh climates. Therefore, medical research on animals should be encouraged, and the concerns of those holding an alternative view should be applied only to the extent that such concerns permit the unhindered continuation of such research, because as discussed in this paper such research is vital for human survival and progress. Cunningham, Paul. Animals in Psychology Education and Student Choice. Society Animals magazine, 2000: 19-21. Doug, Brandon. Human Rights, Animal Wrongs? Exploring Attitudes toward Animal Use and Possibilities for Change. Society Animals 18.3 (2010): 251-272. Eckholm, Erik. â€Å"Special to the New York Times: Tests that spare animals reported. New York Times 02 Feb. 1986: 25. Levinson, Ralph, and Michael Reiss. Key Issues in Bioethics: A guide for Teachers. London: New York: RoutledgeFalmer, 2003.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Mike Pence Bio - Vice President Under Donald Trump

Mike Pence Bio - Vice President Under Donald Trump Mike Pence is a  former congressman  and  governor of Indiana  who was chosen by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to be his running mate in the 2016 election. Both Trump and Pence were elected. Pence is described as a conservatives conservative and was seen as a safe pick for the often erratic and mercurial reality-television star.   Trump announced his choice of a running mate in typical Trump fashion, by posting the news on Twitter. He tweeted: I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate.   Pence later tweeted:  Honored to join realDonaldTrump and work to make America great again. In announcing Pence as his running make, Trump sought to cast the Republican ticket as the law and order candidates. Trump and Pence sought to contrast themselves with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, whose use of a personal email server drew fire from the FBI and involvement in numerous other scandals earned her the nickname crooked Hillary. Trump made the announcement on July 15, 2016, just three days before the start of that years  Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Trumps timing was typical in modern presidential politics. The  party nominees often announce their choice of running mates in the days and weeks leading up to the nominating conventions. Only twice have they  waited until the conventions. What a difference  between crooked Hillary Clinton and Mike Pence ... Hes a  solid, solid person, Trump said in introducing Pence. Trump described Pence as my partner in this campaign. Reaction to  Trumps Choice of Running Mate Trumps selection of Pence as a running mate was seen as both a safe pick and one that could come with potential pitfalls. Trump will benefit from Pences solid conservative credentials, particularly when it comes to social issues such as abortion and gay rights. Pence is an outspoken opponent of abortion rights and fierce defender of religious freedom. He came under fire in 2015 for signing a law that many believed would have allowed Indiana business owners to deny service to gays and lesbians on religious grounds. Having Pence on the Republican ticket could win votes from religious conservatives who are not convinced Trump has the same convictions. Trump, who was registered as a Democrat for more than eight years in the 2000s, has remained relatively silent on social issues such as abortion and gay rights. Pences aversion to the in-your-face style politicking  could also complement Trumps more abrasive style of campaigning. Trump is unpredictable, forceful and, at times, impolite. Pence is predictable, some might say to a fault. Pence does not shy from a fight, but forceful is not a word that is used often to describe him. Pence is Midwestern polite,  Andrew Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, wrote in The Washington Post. On the downside: Pence is seen as somewhat ... bland. Boring. Too conventional. Hes also  - again  - socially conservative. Very socially conservative. And that, some pundits believe, could turn off moderate Republicans and independent voters. â€Å"Mike sees himself as a champion of a very culturally conservative set of values that represent small-town Middle America,†Ã‚  Leslie Lenkowsky, a former professor at Indiana University, told The New York Times.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"He sees his role as protecting them.† Other Potential Running Mates Pence was among three people Trump was seriously considering for the vice presidency. The other two were New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.  Pence, Christie and Gingrich were on Trumps final short list of potential running mates.   Trump claimed Pence was his first choice all during the vetting process. At least one published report indicated, however, indicated that Trump had sought to reverse course after the news media began reporting he had chosen the Indiana governor. Trump denied those reports. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence was my first choice, Trump said. The Clinton campaign, however, seized on claims Trump was waffling over his running mate. It released an ad with the line:  Donald Trump. Always divisive. Not so decisive. Pences Political Career Pence served 12 years in the House of Representatives as the congressman from Indianas 2nd and 6th Congressional Districts. He was later elected governor of Indiana and was serving his first four-year term when Trump asked him to join the 2016 presidential ticket. Heres a summary of Pences political career: 1986: Ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives.1988:  Ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives.2000: Won election to Indianas 2nd Congressional District seat.2002: Won re-election to the seat, which was renumbered the 6th Congressional District. He also won re-election to two-year terms in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.  2012: Won the Indiana governor election and took office in January 2013.2016: Chosen as Trumps vice presidential nominee. Pence held two prominent leadership posts in the House: chairman of the Republican Study Committee and chairman of the House Republican Conference.   3 Major Pence  Controversies One of the most high-profile controversies surrounding Pence came during his tenure as governor of Indiana. The Periods for Pence movement was launched after Pence signed a strict anti-abortion law that banned women from getting the procedure if their motivation was to prevent the birth of a disabled child. â€Å"I believe that a society can be judged by how it deals with its most vulnerable- the aged, the infirm, the disabled and the unborn, Pence said after signing the law in March 2016.  The law, he said, will ensure the dignified final treatment of the unborn and prohibits abortions that are based only on the unborn childs sex, race, color, national origin, ancestry, or disability, including Down syndrome.   The Periods for Pence movement protest the law, saying it treats women like children and is too intrusive. One provision of the law requires any  miscarried fetus to be  interred or cremated by a facility having possession of the remains. On Facebook, the Periods for Pence movement mocked the provision  and urged women to flood the governors office with calls. Fertilized eggs can be expelled during a womans period without a woman even knowing that she might have had the potential blastocyst in her. Therefore, any period could potentially be a miscarriage without knowledge. I would certainly hate for any of my fellow Hoosier women to be at risk of penalty if they do not properly dispose of this or report it. Just to cover our bases, perhaps we should make sure to contact Governor Pences office to report our periods. We wouldnt want him thinking that THOUSANDS OF HOOSIER WOMEN A DAY are trying to hide anything, would we?Lets make our bodies Mikes business for real, if this is how he wants it. Another major controversy was Pences signing of the  Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2015, which came under fire across the United States from critics who contended it allowed business owners to refuse service to gays and lesbians based on their religious beliefs. Pence later signed a revised version of the law  that stripped out the controversial provisions and said there had been misunderstanding about the original versions.  This law has become a subject of great misunderstanding and controversy across our state and nation. However we got here, we are where we are, and it is important that our state take action to address the concerns that have been raised and move forward.†Ã‚   Early in Pences political career, he was embarrassed when it was discovered he used nearly $13,000 in  donations to his 1990 congressional campaign to pay the mortgage on his house, as well as cover other personal expenses including his credit card bill, car payments and groceries. While not illegal at the time, Pences personal use of political donations cost him the election that year. He apologized to voters and described his behavior as  Ã¢â‚¬Å"an exercise in naivete.† Professional Career Pence, like many members of Congress and governors, is an attorney by trade.  He also hosted a conservative talk radio show in the 1990s called the  The Mike Pence Show, once  describing himself as Rush Limbaugh on decaf.   Faith Pence once considered entering the priesthood, according to The New York Times.  He has described himself as an evangelical Catholic. He has also said he is â€Å"a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order.† Education Pence graduated with a bachelors degree in history  from  Hanover College in  Hanover, Indiana, in 1981. A college profile of Pence says he  served as president of United Campus Ministries Board and on the staff of the student newspaper, The Triangle. He would be the second Hanover College graduate to be vice president. The first was 1841 graduate  Thomas Hendricks, who was vice president  under Grover Cleveland. Pence earned a law degree from Indiana Universitys  Robert H. McKinney School of Law in  Indianapolis in 1986. He graduated from  Columbus North High School in Columbus, Indiana. Personal Life Pence was born  in Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana, on June 7, 1959. His father was the manager of a gas station in town.   He is married to Karen Pence. The couple got married in 1985 and have three children:  Michael, Charlotte and Audrey.