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Euthanasia The “Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals”, “Animal Welfare Act” and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals require the IACUC to review and approve the proposed methods of euthanasia. The proposed methods must be consistent with the recommendations of the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia (formerly Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia), published in June 2007, unless there are scientific justifications for alternative methods. The AVMA categorizes each method of euthanasia as acceptable (methods which consistently produce a humane death when used as the sole means of euthanasia), conditionally acceptable (methods which by the nature of the technique or because of greater potential for operator error or safety hazards might not consistently produce humane death or are methods not well documented in the scientific literature) and unacceptable (methods deemed inhumane under any conditions or that the panel found posed a substantial risk to the human applying the technique). The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) has issued policy guidance clarifying current requirements regarding the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a euthanasia agent for small laboratory animals. Protocol applications should reflect the methods and guidance provided by the AVMA and OLAW. Euthanasia is the act of humanely killing animals by methods that induce rapid unconsciousness and death without pain or distress. In evaluating the appropriateness of methods, some of the criteria that should be considered are ability to induce loss of consciousness and death while minimizing animal pain, distress, or anxiety; reliability; irreversibility; time required to induce unconsciousness; species and age limitations; compatibility with research objectives; and safety of and emotional effect on personnel. Euthanasia should be carried out in a manner that avoids animal distress. Depending on the species involved, some animals being euthanized may vocalize, release pheromones or behave in a manner which may be distressing to other animals. For those reasons, animals should not be euthanized while crowded or in the presence of animals not being euthanized. It is essential that euthanasia be performed by personnel who are skilled in methods for the species in question and that it be performed in a professional and compassionate manner. It is imperative that death be verified after euthanasia and before disposal of the animal. Animals in deep narcosis following exposure to euthanasia agents may appear dead, but may eventually recover. Death must be confirmed by examining the animal for cessation of vital signs with consideration given to the animal species and method of euthanasia when determining the criteria for confirming death. Principal Investigators are responsible for ensuring all personnel performing animal euthanasia have been properly trained to consistently apply the techniques in a humane and effective manner. See the Recommended Methods of Euthanasia and the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) Task Force Report on Rodent Euthanasia in the Appendices of the Policy for species specific information. |
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Last updated 04/28/2008 |
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