Purpose
In order to comply with Federal Regulations (USDA and PHS)
and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the University of
Connecticut Health Center's Animal Care Committee (ACC) has established a policy
on requirements for reporting unusual or unexpected morbidity and/or mortality
in a research project.
Action
- If, during the course of a research project, any
unusual animal deaths or significant health related problems occur, the
Principal Investigator must report the incident within 72 hours from the time
of discovery to the ACC (via the program coordinator) and the Director of the
Center for Laboratory Animal Care (CLAC). The attending veterinarian
should also report any incidences of unusual animal illnesses and deaths to
the ACC via the program coordinator when they are discovered during review of
animal morbidity and mortality reports.
- It is at the discretion of the attending veterinarians
what action, immediate or otherwise, is needed to prevent, reduce, or minimize
any further animal suffering. This may include removal of the animal(s)
from the study and/or euthanasia of the remaining animal(s).
- There should be a combined effort of the ACC, the
attending veterinarians, and the Principal Investigator to arrive at a
workable plan to prevent further morbidity and mortality for the duration of
the research project.
Effective Dates: May 25, 2006 through May 24,
2009
This policy has been approved by a majority vote of the Animal Care Committee
Members
Joseph Lorenzo, M.D., Chair, Animal Care Committee
