nimal research is a necessary practice in the world of medical research, allowing scientists to develop life-saving interventions and to spot catastrophic problems before new techniques or products make their way to actual patients. However, this does not mean that we should deny that there are serious ethical issues involved.

Animal testing is not a pretty or pleasant process. It causes pain and suffering to animal subjects, and legitimate cases of abuse have been uncovered by animal rights groups. Consequently, the practice should be tightly regulated, and alternative methods should be employed whenever possible.

• Discuss a specific research study involving animals that had ethical issues.
• What were the ethical issues involved?
• What could have been done to conduct the research study differently to avoid these ethical issues?
• Apply Virtue ethics as an ethical theory to this topic. Is it any different to use or not use animals for medical testing if animals are already being killed for food and other products consumed by people?