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Changing a Research Protocol that Uses Animals
A research project was designed to collect encephalographic data from animal subjects using surface electrodes. Problems have developed, however, and you now suspect that surgically implanted electrodes would give significantly better results. Is it appropriate to try this technique once or twice before incurring the administrative burden of altering the research protocol, which does not provide for any surgery? K3R says: Before switching from surface electrodes to a surgical procedure involving animals, approval would have to be obtained from the animal care and use committee and an amendment to the prior animal use protocol would have to be obtained. It is not ethical (or legal) to perform invasive surgical procedures on animals without approval from an animal care committee, even if this involves only once or twice for practice. P3L says: Many of the regulations inmposed upon those who use animals for research are onerous, unduly restrictive, and have little effect on improving animal welfare. In this instance, however, a major change in the protocol is contemplated and an amendment to the protocol must be submitted to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Where to draw the line? If this were a drug study, substituting one drug for another should not require an amendment. Or a change in the species of rat used should not trigger more paperwork.
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