Essentials for IACUC Members - Refresher Course

Investigations of Non-compliance -

Is there a conflict of interest here?

Yes, of course, Dr. Katz is conflicted.

• The AV is employed by the University to be responsible for the welfare of the research animals at the University and to help investigators to get their research done in a timely and efficient fashion.
   
• The AV is sensitive to the need to conserve animal resources and not "waste" these resources.
   
• The AV also needs to be responsive to the regulatory issues and not enable investigators to circumvent federal regulations, policies and institutional guidelines.

What institutional group is specifically empowered the to manage the conflicts of interest and commitment in this situation?

Dr. Katz decides to permit the procedure to continue.

Dr. Katz decides that it would be best to permit the procedure to continue, fearing the animal resources would be wasted if he stepped in to terminate the procedure. The AV meets with Dr. Kutter later that day to discuss the current departure from the approved protocol. Dr. Katz asks Dr. Kutter to voluntarily stop all activities on this project until the IACUC can review the circumstances of the alleged non-compliance.

Dr. Kutter asks: "What non- compliance, the procedure is in the protocol." Further he says "No, we can't stop now, we need to collect these data, our patients are waiting for this new technology."

Dr. Katz knows now that he made a mistake in not stopping the procedure.

He contacts the IACUC chair, Dr. Bahr. Dr. Bahr, is very concerned that Dr. Kutter has been conducting unapproved procedures on Dr. Bigdolah's device testing protocol.

What should Dr. Bahr do? 
Move the mouse over the alternatives to see more information.

1. Call the IO
2. Call a meeting of the chair, the AV, the IACUC Coordinator
3. Call an emergency IACUC meeting

Then click here to continue.