I WONDER if A Knittel (You Say, December 15), who is a registered general nurse, refuses to administer medication to any of her patients?

The reason I ask is because all modern medicines are quite rightly tested on animals before they reach the clinical trials which involve human volunteers to do otherwise would be unethical.

A survey conducted by the British Medical Association found that 19 out of 20 doctors agreed that animal research has aided medical progress. The BMA made an official statement concluding "we believe animal experimentation is necessary at present to develop a better understanding of diseases and how to treat them, but believes that, where possible, alternative methods should be used".

The Department of Health now includes some extensive information on animal research on its web site. The 30-page document entitled "Memorandum for the House of Lords Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures" contains complete and thorough explanations of animal research.

The introduction says, "Research is essential for progress, and research on animals has contributed to almost every medical advance of the last century.

The NHS would not be able to function effectively were it not for the availability of medicines and treatments that have been developed or validated through research using animals. The public health - in its widest sense - is the ultimate beneficiary of medical research using animals."

As well as detailing the medical benefits of animal research, the document describes the regulatory requirements for medicines.

Seriously Ill for Medical Research (SIMR) has a very simple message - for patient's sakes, let animal research continue.

We support the humane use of animals and genetic technology where necessary in medical research.

For an information pack please write to SIMR, PO Box 504, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 2LU. www.simr.org.uk or e-mail us at: info@simr.org.uk

THOMAS BROMLEY,

SIMR member,

Littlehampton

West Sussex.