Lesson 14: Reporting Misuse, Mistreatment, or Non-Compliance

Question 1

What happens if you observe misuse or mistreatment of animals, or you see procedures that you don’t think comply with federal regulations or guidelines?

Answer 1

You should immediately report the concerns to the IACUC office or anonymously through the following mechanisms:

1. Adverse Event or Deviation from Protocol Form
2. telephone: 607-255-5398Call: 607-255-5398 or toll free at 1-866-293-3077Call: 1-866-293-3077
3. Cornell University Hotline: www.ethicspoint.com.

Question 2

Examples of reportable situations and activities include:

Answer 2

Situations where animals may be in immediate, actual or perceived jeopardy.
Situations involving alleged violations of the:
Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations (“AW Regulations”)
the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) – approved Cornell University Animal Welfare Assurance (Assurance)
the Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy)
Cornell Policy 1.4.
Situations involving departures from the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide).
Situations involving procedural violations or protocol non-compliance such as performing unauthorized surgery or other procedures not listed on a protocol, allowing unauthorized persons (i.e., not approved on protocols) to participate in a research project, or administering drugs or other substances that the IACUC has not approved.