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Presentation
to 4th year medical students Salman University Kharj on 21 May 2013
by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr.
1.0 ENJOINING KINDNESS TO ANIMALS
Kindness for animals is enjoined
by all religions. Saving animals from danger is a noble act. There is a moral
reward for kindness to animals.
2.0 PROHIBITING CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
Cruelty and physical abuse of
animals are prohibited. There is severe punishment is reserved for cruel
treatment if animals. Face branding, beating, cursing, sexual abuse, and wanton
killing of animals are forbidden.
3.0 ANIMAL RESEARCH: PURPOSE and RELEVANCE
The purpose of animal research is
to spare humans from risk. Findings in animals are relevant to humans because
of similarities in physiology and biochemistry. However findings in animals
cannot be directly transferred to humans; research on humans is still necessary
for a definitive conclusion. Animal research is exploratory and is not
definitive. Some question the need for animal research altogether!
4.0 THE LAW AND ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION
The position of the Law is that
animal experiments are allowed if a prima facie case can be established
that the result of the research is a necessity, dharuurat. Dharuurat
under the Law is what is necessary for human life. The regulations of necessity
require that no more than the absolute minimum necessary should be done.
Animal research has definite
risks for the animals that are not balanced by any benefits: pain, suffering,
permanent injury, inhumane treatment and operations, and being killed
(sacrificed). Thus use of animals in justifiable on the basis of benefiting
humans and not any benefits that accrue to the animals. The risks to humans
from animal research are minimal in the short term; long-term effects are
difficult to fathom.
5.0 OUTSTANDING ETHICO-LEGAL ISSUES
There are limits to deriving
benefits from animals. Humans were not given a carte blanche to exploit animals
in any way they liked. They have to conform to the Law and moral guidelines.
If the results of animal
experimentation will lead to protection of human life, then research is allowed
to proceed because then it is a necessity. This is similar to killing animals
for food, a necessity for human life. If research is for general scientific
curiosity unrelated to any tangible human benefit, then it is not allowed..
All types of animals used in
research cannot be subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering. Animals whose
flesh is edible are preferably used in research. Use of animals that are haram
like the pig should be avoided as much as possible and should be considered
only in cases of dharurat.
Animals, like humans, have rights to enjoyment
of life and good health. The researcher must therefore minimize animal
suffering. The animals must be shown kindness and respect. They should not be
subjected to the psychological pain of seeing other animals in pain or being
sacrificed. Pain must be minimized both during the experiment and when the
animal is being terminally sacrificed.
The long-term effects of the
experiment on the animal must be considered and efforts made to decrease
suffering and pain. The nutritional and medical needs of the animal must be
taken care of before, during, and after the research.