Research Involving Animals

The Policy

MSCD research involving the use of animals will be required to conform to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing animal care and research. MSCD researchers will conform to the following ethical principles:

Care and Use of Animals in Research

1. Researchers who conduct research involving animals treat them humanely.
2. Researchers acquire, care for, use, and dispose of animals in compliance with current federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and with professional standards.
3. Researchers trained in research methods and experienced in the care of laboratory animals supervise all procedures involving animals and are responsible for ensuring appropriate consideration of their comfort, health, and humane treatment.
4. Researchers ensure that all individuals using animals under their supervision have received instruction in research methods and in the care, maintenance, and handling of the species being used, to the extent appropriate to their role.
5. Responsibilities and activities of individuals assisting in a research project are consistent with their respective competencies.
6. Researchers make reasonable efforts to minimize the discomfort, infection, illness, and pain of animal subjects.
7. A procedure subjecting animals to pain, stress, or privation is used only when an alternative procedure is unavailable and the goal is justified by its prospective scientific, educational, or applied value.
8. Surgical procedures are performed under appropriate anesthesia; techniques to avoid infection and minimize pain are followed during and after surgery.
9. When it is appropriate that the animal's life be terminated, it is done rapidly, with an effort to minimize pain, and in accordance with accepted procedures.

Based on the American Psychological Association (1992), Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, American Psychologist, 47, 1597-1611.

Approved by Academic Affairs, 1994.