Public opinion has been surveyed on many occasions and has consistently shown that the
public are firmly supportive of animal research. The latest survey, carried out by MORI in 2002,
showed that 90% of the public accept the need for animal research provided that certain
conditions are met:
- the research is for serious medical or life-saving purposes
- there is no alternative
- there is no unnecessary suffering
The fact is that the majority of UK research already fulfils these criteria.
It is true to say that the vast majority of people in the UK have little idea
of the detailed regulations that govern medical research. When people are asked
what regulations they would like to see in place to cover the use of animals
in research, they routinely mention things that are already a part of the regulations.
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