Patients Reject Vivisection
Medical research charities claim that they conduct animal research for the benefit of patients, but animal ‘models’ of human disease not only cause immense suffering, they are also unreliable and the results gained can be dangerously misleading. Non-animal research methods allow us to obtain data that is more accurate and relevant to human health, and therefore more likely to lead to effective treatments.
Prior to the June 2011 launch of our Victims of Charity campaign, we invited people who are suffering from diseases such as cancer and heart disease to get in touch with us, and declare their opposition to the animal experiments that are conducted in their name. Below is a selection of the heartfelt statements we received. Please click here to view the rest.
This is an extremely important aspect to our campaign, and we would like to thank everyone who was kind enough to get involved.
Dawn
I am a type 2 non-insulin dependent diabetic, and could possibly be facing quite a bleak future healthwise. Despite all of that, I am totally and utterly against vivisection. I believe that animals should have rights the same as humans, and freedom from pain and cruelty is a major right. Animals are not ours to do with as we please. Besides, it has been extensively proven that results from animal experimentation are not transferable to humans. Vivisection? Definitely NOT in my name.
Tania
I may have a life-threatening condition, but I don’t want diabetes to threaten the life of any animal because of it. Humans seem to think that animals were put here purely for our “use”. The experiments carried out on animals are irrelevant (some scientists and doctors are now telling us this) and there are cruelty-free alternatives available. I will not give to any charity that uses animals in experiments, even Diabetes UK, whilst they continue to torture animals in our name. I have to live with my condition, I don’t expect an animal to suffer or lose its life because of it – that is arrogance beyond belief.
Lyn
I unknowingly married into a family affected by Huntington’s disease. This is a genetic disorder in which the brain cells degenerate causing behavioural and movement disorders. It is a dominant gene. If you have the gene you will get the disorder. There is a 50% chance that it will be inherited by the children. There is now a presymptomatic test and both my daughters have tested positive. I have two grandchildren who are too young to be tested but are both at 50% risk. I live in hope that scientists will find a way of either preventing the onset of this horrendous disease or of succeeding to slow down the progression once it starts. However in order to experiment they are using hundreds of genetically modified mice. No matter how horrendous the disease I do not see we have the right to inflict such devastating symptoms on innocent mice. Apart from which how can results from mice show what will happen with humans.
Jan
I have had epilepsy for over 40 years, and it has not always been under good control, which means I have had many tablet changes – undoubtedly tested on animals. To coin a phrase – not in my name! I know that these tests are not only dreadfully cruel, but a waste of time and resources. Here’s a case in point. For many years I was on a tablet called Phenytoin. Over the last 5 years it has been discovered – through human patients – that this drug has many more undesirable side effects than were discovered by animal testing, and many people (including myself) have been taken off them. Point proven in my opinion!
Alan
I am a vegan and have been an animal and human rights campaigner for 30 years. I have been diagnosed with MS for over ten years. It is my belief and philosophy that animals are not utilities or property, and just as I do not want my stomach to be a graveyard for animals, I do not want my health to be dependent on the torture of sentient creatures in vivisection laboratories.
Maxine
My name is Maxine and I have Multiple Sclerosis and have had it since 2004. Even though I have used a wheelchair and have struggled with normal day-to-day activities, I would not under any circumstances support animal testing. I believe experimenting on animals is unnecessary and cruel, and believe that in this day and age there are many other, more reliable, alternatives.
Hafsa
I, despite having breast cancer, could never support animal testing. I don’t believe it is necessary as there are many other more reliable methods of research. I don’t see how anyone can approve of inflicting pain and trauma on innocent creatures, or see any normality in the short, miserable lives they lead. Vivisection should be banned completely, with no exceptions.
Claire
My name is Claire and I have congenital heart disease. I was born with three separate conditions: hole in the heart (heart murmur); missing valve and restriction in the aorta. The latter was operated on when I was a toddler. I believe that research which focuses on the human body provides a clearer understanding of the development and causes of many illnesses, which can only lead to more accurate treatments and prevention. I attend bi-annual hospital appointments with a specialist to help them understand more about my heart condition as I do not believe that animals should suffer at my expense.
Haris
I have had three operations for breast cancer over the years, but I am adamantly opposed to any animal testing. Animal testing is just not acceptable. Animals are a different species and although we can artificially induce cancer into their bodies we can never replicate the same circumstances as in a human body. There are dozens of humane methods of disease control that do not use animals and I, and I’m sure others suffering from cancer, would rather these be used than contribute to animals suffering on our behalf which, as it turns out, is the wrong way to solve the problem. Civilized societies do not torture animals.
Laura
I am an artist and lecturer in my 60’s and was diagnosed with breast cancer 13 years ago. All my adult life I have actively campaigned against animal cruelty, including vivisection, which I consider to be completely immoral and very bad science. I do not believe that millions of animals should be killed in an attempt to prolong my life or that of any other human being.
Paul
My name is Paul and I’m 57 years old. I have been vegan for over 30 years and have until recently have been in good health. Two years ago I had a heart valve replacement operation and since then I’ve suffered two epileptic seizures and a number of mini strokes, and have been diagnosed with vascular dementia. I do not want to see animals harmed in the vain hope that their suffering will solve my health problems. Money raised by charities would be better spent on human studies and modelling as carried out by the Dr Hadwen Trust.
Ruth
My father died last month of liver cancer. I feel great sadness for his loss, but I would not want animal experiments to be carried out on his behalf. The animal research done behind the scenes by these charities is truly sickening, and there are so many other methods which are far more effective.
Would you like to be featured on this page?
If so, please send us an email at info@animalaid.org.uk, telling us your name, location, the condition you suffer from, and a statement about why you do not want animal experiments to be carried out ‘in your name’. If you could also include a photograph, that would be great!