George, George, George, “until you get caught ... think twice.” Call the florist, George. Then, practice saying, “Helen, I'm sorry; you're right.”

OLAW, with USDA's concurrence, issued guidance regarding alternate IACUC members1. The provisions listed therein include the following:

“There must be a specific one-to-one designation of IACUC members and alternates. This is necessary to ensure that a committee is properly constituted, even when alternates are serving. For example, an alternate for a non-affiliated IACUC member would need to also meet the non-affiliated member requirements. Use of a pool of alternates would not be consistent with this requirement.”

This provision neither prevents an individual from being appointed as an alternate for more than one regular member, nor does it preclude a regular member from having more than one alternate. Each alternate member must have adequate training and must meet the applicable membership requirements for the regular member(s) for whom he or she is appointed as an alternate. Obviously, it can get confusing. This is another reason there must be a specific one-to-one designation of regular IACUC members and alternate members (i.e., for each regular member–alternate member relationship or appointment).

For example, let us give the two absent scientists in this scenario names, Smith and Jones. Both serve on the Committee in the scientist capacity or role. If Hendricks is a practicing scientist and is experienced in research involving animals, then the CEO can appoint him as an alternate member for Smith and as an alternate member for Jones. These are two separate specific one-to-one designations. Hendricks can, however, only actively serve in the alternate capacity for one member at a time.

The meeting minutes should reflect that Hendricks was present at the meeting and was actively serving, in an alternate capacity, for Smith or for Jones—but not both. Because Hendricks voted only once (I assume this to mean that he had only one vote—either as Smith's alternate or as Jones' alternate), it would seem that there is “no problem,” George.

In George's defense, he was of the opinion that an alternate member can only serve on behalf of one specifically named regular IACUC member. At a single point in time, this is true. At any given time, an alternate can only actively serve as an alternate for a single member. However, as described earlier, it is permissible for an individual to be appointed as an alternate for more than one regular member.