NUMBER:   ACAF 5.04

SECTION:  Academic Affairs    


SUBJECT:  Protocol for Reporting Misuse of Animals                

              
DATE:     February 1, 1995

Latest Revision:  January 13, 2005

                     
Policy for:     Columbia and Regional Campuses

Procedure for:  Columbia and Regional Campuses

Authorized by:	 Mark P. Becker	  

Issued by:      Provost's Office

________________________________________________________________



I.   Policy

A. Under the Animal Welfare Act, the Institutional Animal Care

and Use Committee (IACUC) is given the function of reviewing and

investigating concerns involving animal care resulting from 

complaints by University personnel or the public.  The IACUC is 

obligated to assess the validity of and to respond in an appropriate 

manner to claims of disregard for the welfare of laboratory animals.  

Any misuse of laboratory animals, whether intentional or unwitting, 

shall be addressed.

B. Charges of animal misuse can damage an individual's career,

seriously hamper research progress, and create volatile public

reaction.  Therefore, charges must be handled in a professional

and confidential manner.  The least number of persons necessary 

should  beshould be involved at any stage of the procedure.  Any inquiry 

or investigation must be handled promptly and expeditiously and

with full attention to the rights of all individuals involved. 

Persons conducting the investigation must possess the special 

knowledge necessary to judge the situation but also musthave have no 

immediate personal interest in the case.

C. The IACUC is given responsibility for handling charges of

animal misuse in an expedient, just, and appropriate manner, with

regard for the protection of both the person(s) being accused

and the person(s) submitting the allegations.

D. Persons making wrongful allegations of animal misuse with 

malicious or vengeful intent,intent or persons taking wrongful action

against the accuser because of such allegations, are SUBJECT TO

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS BY THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

II.  Procedure

These procedures are designed to recognize the difficulty in

determining the extent of animal misuse.  The process of inquiry

and investigation should be sufficiently flexible to be

terminated when it becomes clear that charges are unjustified or

that the issue can be resolved appropriately by other means.

A.  Reporting Procedure

    1. Any faculty member, student, staff member or other

    individual who suspects that animal misuse has occurred has

    an obligation to report, in writing, that suspicion to the 

    veterinarian in charge of USC's animal facilities. 

    Alternatively, reports should be made to the chairman or

    some other member of the USC IACUC. It is preferred that reports

    be made in writing and signed, but anonymous reports will be 

    accepted and acted upon. Such reports will be afforded the strictest 

    confidentiality.

	  2. The identity of the person making the report will not necessarily be 

    concealed, since this person may be an important witness in an investigation.
     
    3. Once an allegation has been made, the USC IACUC will 

    act in a manner which protects the reputation and well-being

    of both the accused and the accuser.

B. Investigation

     1. An investigation committee will be established by the

     IACUC chairman consisting of, at a minimum, the IACUC chairman or

     his/her designee, the USC veterinarian, and one IACUC member

     unaffiliated with the University.  The investigation

     committee will make a preliminary review to a) exclude

     frivolous accusations and b) to determine the extent of

     alleged animal misuse.

     2. The person accused of animal misuse must be given an

     opportunity to answer the charges at this time.

     3.  If necessary, appropriate measures should be instituted

     to eliminate immediately  anyimmediately any ongoing animal misuse.

     4.   Any other persons with relevant information should be

     interviewed at this time.

     5.   If the IACUC investigation committee decides that there

     are no grounds for a charge of animal misuse and no further

     inquiry is necessary, a written report should be filed with

     the IACUC.  A copy of the report will be kept in a permanent, 

     confidential file in the Office of the Associate Vice Provost for 

     Sponsored Programs and Researchwith the Institutional Official(IO). The

     accuser and the accused will be notified of the outcome of the investigation. 

     The case is then considered closed.

     6.   If the IACUC investigation committee determines that

     animal misuse has occurred, a report to the full IACUC is

     mandatory.

     7.   Investigation of animal misuse allegations should be

     completed within 30 calendar days of the initial allegation.

     8.   In unusual circumstances where additional time is 

     required to review the issues involved, the investigation

     committee shall keep a written record of the cause for delay.

     Any delay beyond 60 calendar days shall be reported to the Institutional 

     Official.

C.   Action by IACUC

     1. In cases where animal misuse has occurred, the full IACUC

     committee will consider the report of the investigation

     committee to determine appropriate action.  Consideration

     will be given to the following actions by IACUC:

     a.   Require appropriate training and corrective action

     prior to continued use of laboratory animals by the

     persons involved in animal misuse.

     b.   Halt all further acquisition and use of laboratory

     animals by persons involved in animal misuse.

     c.   Notification of the Associate Vice Provost for of

     the Institutional Official and the Office of Research Compliance 

     when sponsoring agency funds are involved.  This office will file 

     additional reports to relevant sponsoring agencies as required.

     d.   If misuse is judged as willful and serious and where

     the intent of the misuse warrants, referral of case for consideration 

     by the USC scientific misconduct process.

     e.   Rejection of investigation committee's determination that animal 

     misuse has occurred.
     
     2. A final report of committee action in each case will

     be kept in a permanent, confidential file with the IACUC

     and in the Office of the Associate Vice Provost for

     Sponsored Programs and Research with the Institutional Official.  

     The accused and the accuser will be notified of the final IACUC decision.

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