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  • Protocol Review
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Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Suspend the surgeries

Lab Animal volume 35, pages 15–16 (2006)Cite this article

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The investigator clearly violated Animal Welfare Act Regulations (AWARs) and the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy) by conducting unapproved surgical procedures. However, the IACUC is correct to consider Wright's concern that complete suspension of his work would invalidate his research, which in turn would mean that animals would have undergone surgical manipulations needlessly.

The AWARs1 and PHS Policy2 grant IACUCs the authority to suspend previously approved activities, but are silent as to whether the IACUC has the authority to suspend selected parts of a previously approved protocol. As such, it can be inferred that an IACUC may suspend portions of a protocol, depending upon the nature and circumstances involved in the noncompliance.

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References

  1. 9 CFR, 2.31(c)(8).

  2. Public Health Service. Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals IV.B.8 (US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 1986; reprinted 2002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wadsworth is Associate Director–Animal Subjects Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.,

    Kathy Wadsworth

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  1. Kathy Wadsworth
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Wadsworth, K. Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Suspend the surgeries. Lab Anim 35, 15–16 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban1106-15b

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban1106-15b

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