In response to the questions posed in this scenario, the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) offers the following guidance:

In responding to this scenario, OLAW assumes that Great Eastern University has an Animal Welfare Assurance with OLAW. The scenario asks the reader to consider the authority of a clinical veterinarian to euthanize an animal.

The decision to euthanize an animal experiencing unrelieved pain and distress is clearly within the authority of the veterinarian in the described scenario. It is also an essential responsibility in the program of veterinary care and a requirement in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide). The Guide states, “the institution must provide the AV [Attending Veterinarian] with sufficient authority, including access to all animals, and resources to manage the program of veterinary care” and “if the investigator and veterinary staff cannot reach consensus on treatment, the veterinarian must have the authority, delegated by senior administration and the IACUC, to treat the animal, remove it from the experiment, institute appropriate measures to relieve severe pain or distress, or perform euthanasia if necessary”1. The failure of the IACUC and Institutional Official to formally delegate such authority to the veterinary staff is not compliant with the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals2 and is reportable to OLAW. Consideration of the animal and relief of suffering is a basic tenet of US Government Principle VI and should be the default in decisions concerning euthanasia3. Maximizing the data obtained to the detriment of the animal because of budgetary limitations is inexcusable, and the IACUC is well-advised to counsel the investigator.

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