As a scientist, animal rights activist, and friend of several incurably ill people, I would like to correct a misconception conveyed in your February 6, 1989, article, “Waging War On The Animal Rights Lobby” (page 1).
The majority of animal rights activists realize that, at the present time and in many instances, there is no alternative to the use of animals in medical research.
The majority of animal rights activists have but two objectives in this area: to promote viable alternatives to the use of animals for this purpose and, most importantly, to institute a system of accountability for those who would use animals for medical research.
Is it too much to ask that a committee—composed of medical, veterinary, and, yes, animal rights people—review how necessary and appropriate are proposals to use animals in research? Yes, there are extremists in the animal rights groups—those who cannot understand that it is ...
