Investigator Responsibility for Euthanasia (BU ASC)

This policy is for the BU Animal Science Center, including the Medical Campus (MED) and Charles River Campus (CRC).

Principal Investigators are responsible for the appropriate euthanasia of their research animals. The animal euthanasia method(s) proposed by Principal Investigators on all Protocol Forms are reviewed for appropriateness by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Once a Protocol Form is approved, use of the approved euthanasia method is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator and/or their research staff members.

Please be informed that both the IACUC and the Boston University Animal Science Center (BU ASC) expect that Principal Investigators and/or their research staff members will provide appropriate and timely euthanasia to all their animals.

Training in delivery of appropriate methods of euthanasia (see attached policy) is available through the BU ASC. Any Principal Investigator and/or research staff member who requires training in delivery of the approved method of euthanasia to research animals needs to contact BU ASC Office, 617-358-8301, to obtain training. A record of this training will be added to the relevant Protocol Form files.

The Principal Investigator’s responsibility for providing animal euthanasia does not in any way affect the authority of the attending veterinary staff to provide euthanasia to any animal when deemed necessary based on their professional judgment. The Principal Investigator will typically be notified before such action is taken.

Please contact the BU IACUC or BU ASC Office if there are any questions or concerns regarding this policy.