Dr. Simian greeted me in the lobby of the large building and proceeded to give me a concise history of the HERC and its studies.
"The Human Experimentation Research Center was founded by Dr. Theodore Simian, my great-grandfather. Gathering a group of selected scientists, he first studied the anatomy and growth in human babies, Although the technology of his day was simplistic in comparison with what we have today, my great-grandfather produced theories that still apply today."
"Well, enough of history. I'm sure you are eager to take a look around this place."
After selecting a few pamphlets from the lobby, Dr. Simian and I proceeded through the lobby and into a great hall. Seeing that Dr. Simian had nothing to say, I decided to ask my first question.
"Excuse me doctor, but why experiment on humans?"
Turning his hairy head towards me, he spoke.
"Why humans? A simple question. You see, the human organism is a fine specimen for us to study. Their brains, nervous systems, and organs are closely related to ours. Since the number of humans on our planet is enormous, we have a great abundance to work with. What most fail to understand, and pardon me if I attack your moral beliefs, is that science could not perform the tasks it does today if human experimentation did not exist. I remember in my high school biology class we dissected a human baby, and nobody thought twice about what we were doing. The human life is in no way equal to that of an animal's life."
"Granted, humans are ignorant of their existence, but does that give you the right to torture them by taking them apart and putting them back together again and again?" I asked.
"I hate the word 'torture.' We here at the HERC feel that we are doing society a favor through human experimentation. For instance, if you had a brain tumor, and human experimentation never existed, you would die a slow, agonizing death. However, thanks to human experimentation, today we can cure you. Isn't your so called 'torturing' of humans worth that? Also, we're not even sure if humans have feelings, or at least feelings we can relate to, so why should we care? Humans are here for our use and by studying them we can learn more about ourselves without having to experiment on our own kind. Think about it: If our government were to ban human experimentation, scientists would have to turn to animals for specimens."
Dr. Simian led me into a large amphitheater full of scientists and students. On the stage was an operating table; lying upon it was a twelve year old human boy. I prepared my mind for the grotesque scene I was about to witness.
"Here," the doctor whispered, "is an historic event in human research. This specimen is about to be cut open so that its internal organs can be studied while still functioning. The study should be quite pleasing to our theories because it's such a perfect specimen. Our human catchers caught it riding on a bicycle and from what I've heard it put up quite a fight."
As Dr. Simian intently watched the vivisection, I closed my eyes and prayed to God for forgiveness. This experimentation was not right. What this center was trying to do was prevent the work of God. I'd rather die from an unknown disease than be cured by a doctor who discovered a cure for the disease through human experimentation. It saddened my heart to see that youthful human's blank eyes staring into space. It did not know what was happening.
After the experiment, Dr. Simian informed me that my tour would have to be ended because of an unplanned emergency. I agreed and asked him if he would make one last statement.
"Gladly," he answered. "I know what your beliefs are, that humans have rights too, etc., but those rights are minimal compared to animal rights. Let no animal tell me that an animal's life is equal to that of a human's. Humans are a lower life form, unable to comprehend, feel, and think. They do not understand what is done with them. Some animals say that humans do care, but we do not understand their caring and thinking. In this case I cannot reply, for those animals' issues are moral and cannot successfully be argued against. I believe that human experimentation is a necessity in our time, for without it we would not be able to advance in intelligence and technology. Let me say again, humans are and will always be a lower life form, and on that premise I believe that experimenting on them is justified."
Peter O'Hare
(translated by Eric Machan Howd)
