Trevor Philips

About the author: Trevor Philips is a columnist who wrote this article for the Independent, a United Kingdom newspaper.

Animal experimentation occurs in the medical field and the field of product testing. In both instances, the animals are being used as substitutes for humans who would have to suffer and potentially die in order to gather the information that is used to safeguard products or aid human health. It is unfortunate that many animals are sacrificed in catering to human desires, but human self-interest dictates that any method of preserving human life will be chosen over a concern for animal welfare.

Is the fact that my octogenarian mother might have the pleasure of seeing her second great-grandchild with her own eyes more important than the pain and distress caused by...