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Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Compassionate and rational

Lab Animal volume 44, pages 13–14 (2015)Cite this article

In our opinion, the veterinarian acted compassionately and rationally and did not overstep his authority by euthanizing the mouse against the researcher's wishes. In decisions about humane endpoints, regulatory guidance, protocol parameters and professional judgment must be considered. We assume that Great Eastern University has a Public Health Service (PHS) Assurance. The PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals1 contains the US Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training. Principle I states, “care and use of animals should be in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act2 and other applicable Federal laws.”

The attending veterinarian (AV) has the responsibility “for the health and well-being of all laboratory animals used at the institution”3. Additionally, the Animal Welfare Act regulations state that “[e]ach research facility shall assure that the attending veterinarian has appropriate authority to ensure the provision of adequate veterinary care”4. We believe that the AV should make the final decision concerning animal welfare. Veterinarians working under the direction of the AV should be considered the AV's delegates and therefore hold the same authority. In this case, the AV had been consulted and agreed that euthanasia of the mouse was appropriate.

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References

  1. Public Health Service. Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 1986; amended 2002).

  2. Animal Welfare Act. 7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.

  3. Institute for Laboratory Animal Research. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 8th edn. (National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2011).

  4. Animal Welfare Act Regulations. 9 CFR. Part 2, Subpart C, 2.33(a)(2).

  5. American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. Adequate Veterinary Care. http://www.aclam.org/education-and-training/position-statements-and-reports

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lewis is Protocol Liaison, PAM Program, Research Services Galveston, TX.,

    Jamie Lewis

  2. Barnett is Protocol Liaison, PAM Program, Research Services Galveston, TX.,

    Judy Barnett

  3. Gordon is Attending Veterinarian and Executive Director, Animal Resource Center at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.,

    Brian Gordon

Authors
  1. Jamie Lewis
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  2. Judy Barnett
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  3. Brian Gordon
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Lewis, J., Barnett, J. & Gordon, B. Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Compassionate and rational. Lab Anim 44, 13–14 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.668

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