Medical School Mock Interview
Excel in your medical school interview with 50 essential questions covering ethics, clinical scenarios, and motivation.
Question 30 of 50
What are your thoughts on animal research and animal testing in the medical field?
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Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
As you are about to enter medical school, it's important to know that animal testing and research in a lab setting are a very large part of the medical industry. Breakthroughs and cures are found regularly, thanks to animal testing and research procedures. Your medical school interviewers would like to know your stance on this controversial subject.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"Although I support animal rights, I understand that animal testing and research are required for most pharmaceutical testing and many other research platforms. In the U.S., it is the law for a pharma company to test on animals before a drug is distributed for human consumption. This may change down the road, but for now, I understand that it is a necessity."
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
If you are an animal advocate, you may want to plan an answer that will be honest and true to your beliefs while showing your understanding of the necessity of this practice in the medical industry. Some important things to discuss are your awareness of how many medical breakthroughs have come through animal testing and that ethical and humane testing is now profoundly more common than it was years ago.
"Animal rights must be protected at all times. This does not mean, however, that humane testing cannot be performed in highly controlled environments by highly trained researchers. Animal research paves the way for breakthrough human medicinal discoveries. I would love to know more about research opportunities involving animal studies at your institution."
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Anonymous Answer
I am a supporter of animal rights, but for reasons beyond just this one, I believe that there are other options out there when it comes to research and testing that don't involve the use of animals. For example, cell cultures in a petri dish could be used. Using human cells would provide more accurate and relevant results. EpiDerm and ThinCert could also be used to mimic human skin. Animal bodies are very different from human bodies, in their anatomy, cell structures, and metabolic processes so something that might be safe for an animal might not necessarily be safe for a human.
Rachelle's Feedback
Your answer is very well supported, intelligent, and clear. Well said - good work!
Anonymous Answer
I've thought about this a lot as I've worked in a research lab where we did vagus nerve stimulation testing on rats. I wish we did not have to test on animals, but if we didn't, then we wouldn't have a good model on which to apply our research- which could save human and animal life. In the end, we must minimize pain and unnecessary harm to the animal and treat it with humanity.
Rachelle's Feedback
Your answer shows a lot of insight and a great balance between empathy for animals and an understanding of human needs. Well said!
Anonymous Answer
I think it isn't ideal for anyone involved but is nonetheless necessary. Animal models, though similar to humans, are often inadequate for scaling drugs and pharmaceuticals. Being anatomically different, they are also ill-suited for anatomical models. Animals are living creatures that feel pain, and we subject them to extreme conditions until their death every day. It's easy to see barbarism on animal testing, but as of now, we have no better options. Hopefully, with the advent of 3D printing, we can begin testing human tissue samples effectively.
Rachelle's Feedback
3D printing is such a great example of innovations that will help us evolve from these practices. Your answer is very well thought out.
Anonymous Answer
I think that animal research and animal testing in the medical field is necessary for the medical field to advance and progress. However, I believe that the use of animals should be justified in each case, and the benefit to society outweighs the harm. The use of animals should also be done in a way the minimizes harm and cruelty. So as long as there are regulations on animal use, I think it is an important part of advancing the medical field.
Rachelle's Feedback
You make some important points regarding the use being necessary and justifiable. Well thought out answer.
Anonymous Answer
I think animal testing is important for the medical field. While we don't want to treat animals inhumanely, we also don't want to test something on a patient without knowing what the outcome could be. Animal testing can be done correctly and efficiently to better the world of medicine.
Rachelle's Feedback
You bring up an important distinction between animal testing and animal cruelty. You could strengthen your answer by providing a specific example of when animal testing, as it stands now, is the only option.
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