Indian Experts on Animal Testing

[Guest guest]

Please find the views and opinions of Dr. Chinny Krishna on Animal

Testing.

This opinion of Dr. Chinny Krishna has been posted with his consent:

 

" Frankly, I am surprised and disappointed at Singer's reasoning.

May be that is why in India one took vanavas so that one's second

childhood does not detract from the high level of thinking and action

that followed this in his most productive and sensible years.

After making so many of us think of speciesim, to now make this

statement is a big letdown.

 

The argument by Carl Sagan also does not sound reasonable when he

says: " If I had to explain, if somehow it was my job to do so, to

people whose child was dying because a medical procedure was

unavailable which might very well have been available if animal

experimentation had been performed, I don't know how I would do that

justification. " There is no way of knowing that a medical procedure

would become available because animal experimentation was performed.

 

If what Sagan says is true, how come we have found no cure for AIDS or

cancer?

 

Most animal experimentation today is done because grants are given -

not because there is a chance of finding a cure. As a research

scientist with American Cyanamid for several years, I can speak with

first hand knowledge that the attitude of most animal using

researchers towards animals is deplorable from an animal welfare

perspective.

 

If animal experimentation is stopped, we will find alternatives.

Ultimately, clinical studies are the only validation due to species

differences.

 

If you want to, you can post my response on AAPN.

 

Thanks and regards.

 

Chinny

---

 

 

Dr. Chinny has been involved with the CPCSEA for many years trying to

regulate the housing of and experimentation on animals in India.

 

He is the man behind several innovations to alternatives which make

animal testing optional for the students of schools and colleges in

India. For example the 'Compu frog " , Which is being used by schools of

CBSE and also state education boards in most parts of India.

 

Dr. Chinny and his Blue Cross are respected very widely amongst the

new generation of students because fortunately,the students in India

could finally lay down their scalpels:

In 1997, the Delhi High Court ruled that every student has the right

to a humane alternative to dissection. Alternatives, ranging from

anatomically correct models of human organs to sophisticated computer

programs, are readily available. One popular alternative, the Compu

Series developed and sold by the Chennai-based Blue Cross, allows

students to digitally dissect everything from " Compufrogs " and " rats "

to " Compuroaches " .

 

I am sure people like Dr. Chinny can help us in making the world free

from animal testing in days to come.

 

As a former nominee of the CPCSEA I too have some first hand

experience in conducting checks on Medical and Veterinary Colleges

which use animals for vivisection and practicals.

On several occasions I have found them misusing animals in the name of

testing.

The Gauhati Medical College ( GMC ). one of the most premier medical

colleges in the Northeast India few years back was conducting the

practical examination of a pharmacology student. His practicals were

being examined by seven doctors and assistants in the lab. The Dog he

had slit open was not anesthesised properly and mid-way through the

disection it started moving, all the Doctors including the examinee

fled the lab.

Also the Dog was a stray dog and not a laboratory bred one as the rule

recommends.

This matter was brough to me by none other than one of the Doctors

present. It was then reported to the CPCSEA and I was given a go ahead

to carry out an inspection of the same. Things have improved since

then, but then I am still sceptic.

 

Last year, veterinary students from the College of Veterinary Sciences

in Guwahati informed me of incidents of mass embalming of cow calves.

These calves were taken to the labs, and the students were allowed to

slit open the jugular vien of the animal with was given no anesthesia.

The say that if done in this way the embalming process if better.

But every year this horrible incident takes place, and atleast 30

calves have to loose their lives in this barbaric manner.

None of the students approved of this practice, but it is not easy to

protest being a student.

 

The matter was brought to the notice of Smt Maneka Gandhi, she then

got the Director Animal Welfare Division to write to the dean of this

institute, and enquiry into the matter was ordered and I am told it

has stopped.

Both these institutions are now under close supervision.

Such incidents only go to prove that there lies no logic behind these

testing on animals as it is quite similar to the animal sacrifices for

different Gods of different religions.

 

One big loss animal welfare was when on 23rd dec` 2002, Smt Maneka

Gandhi, who was chairperson of India's Central Committee for the

Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA)

and using her position to block scientific research was removed from

her position as chair of this committee.

 

I have 100% faith and trust in the other animal welfare/rights

organisations world wide who oppose the animal testings and want a

complete BAN.

 

I fully endorse Dr. Chinny`s opinion.

 

We have had enough of these testings, and there simply isnt any scope

for any kind of humane testing, this is what I personally feel.

 

Says Anuradha Sawhney, Chief Functionary of PETA-India, " As long as

people think it is ok to use an animal as long it is being done

humanely, there will always be this discrepancy.

Only when every animal welfare person believes and follows the concept

of veganism will there be no discrepancy.

So no matter how avid an animal rights person someone is, as long he

or she is consuming milk or milk products, or using leather, or silk

etc, animal rights can never be a majority. "

 

Lastly an opinion poll condicted by NDTV on " Should medical research

using animals be banned? " had this to say:

YES: 42% NO:58%

Link: http://www.doctorndtv.com/poll/newresult.asp?id=64

 

It is a good sign and 42% is certaily not a minority.

 

Regards,

 

Azam Siddiqui