The described scenario has several aspects. The first is the desire of a private veterinarian to measure cortisol levels in blood samples from pet owners and from people who don't own pets. Though well-intentioned, this notion does not constitute a valid research study of stress levels in adolescent patients who have or do not have pets. There is no need for any IACUC review of this aspect.

The second aspect is the sampling of blood in adolescents before and after a short visit by their own pets in a special room in the hospital and during their postoperative recovery period. Approval of this study by the university's human use committee implies that all concerns related to the inclusion of humans in the study, such as infection risk, dander risk and room sanitation, were addressed to the committee's satisfaction. In my opinion, this aspect of the scenario also does not constitute a well-designed research study of human stress (or even a well-designed pilot study), but if it satisfied the human use committee, then so be it. There is no need for IACUC review of this aspect.

The third aspect is the recording of patient interactions with their own pets (assumedly with the patients' knowledge and consent) and the possibility that medical students might view the video. In my opinion, this does not require IACUC approval for multiple reasons. The patients and their parents or legal guardians have presumably agreed to participate in the study with full knowledge of the patient–pet meeting conditions (including the video). There is no animal welfare issue of any sort involved in the scenario provided. There is no research done on the animals, nor will any conclusions regarding the animals be derived. Given the information provided, there is no abuse or risk to the pets themselves beyond normal human–pet interactions. The study is on patients' responses to their own pets.

I see no reason for any IACUC involvement here. If there were an IACUC issue here, however, the only IACUC implicated is the one at Great Eastern University.

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