Miscellaneous

Using animals for medical research

Q: Is the animal research where mice and pigs are the subjects of medical research involving giving them certain experimental medicine as a trial before trying it on humans to see the adverse effects of the medicine or killing them for the purpose of research or as an ultimate end point of research permissible?

What if it is done with an intention of human benefit as humans cannot be the trial subjects in the frst phase of the research when adverse effects of a medication or intervention is not known and if animlas are not tried, research projects cannot go on and newer medical interventions/medications, diagnostic tools and treatment will not evolve. Is this kind of research considered to be a zulm on animals?

The rights of a foster mother

Q: Firstly, when a relation of a milk mother (foster mother) or "Razaat" is established through breastfeeding a child, is this status of a mother given to the breastfeeding woman because of respect only and can she be regarded as a step mother?

Secondly, does this status of milk mother make her equivalent to a biological mother in terms of rights and all aspects which a biological mother has.

Repenting for one's past sins

Q: I have a personally sensitive issue. When I was a teenager, I engaged in inappropriate sexual touching with a few girls one of whom was my cousin while she was sleeping. Now that I'm an adult and a bit wiser, I feel terribly guilty. I have apologized to my cousin but without telling her what I did. How can I find peace?