Even though alterna tives to animal testing decrease the number of animals used in research, animal use cannot be eliminated without severely curtailing our ability to improve treatment and prevention of serious illness. The dilemma is to balance the maximum human benefit with a respect for the welfare of the animals used, and to minimize the numbers of animals used when possible and appropriate. There are several useful strategies for using case studies outlined elsewhere in other modules which would be appropriate for use with the ones given here. The role of the teacher is to prod students to these higher levels. In some situations it may be appropriate for students to do some background reading, or have a fact sheet, before beginning the case study.
Some teachers distribute fact sheets at the beginning of some simulations.
His doctor prescribed a medication which would relieve the symptoms and combat the infection. If left untreated, this type of infection usually clears up spontaneously within two weeks. George is responsible for driving himself and his younger sister to school and other activities each day. George has been concerned about the unnecessary use of animals in product testing for several years, and he has learned that the Draize test was used in testing the safety of this medication. The Draize test involves apply ing the tested product to the eyes of rabbits to look for irritation and other side effects.