Who is responsible for the humane treatment of experimental animals?

• A. The researcher
• B. The institution
• C. The regulatory agency
• D. All of the Above

Answer: (D)

Humane treatment of experimental animals is a shared responsibility across everyone involved in the research enterprise. The researcher must carry out work under approved protocols with careful attention to animal welfare: providing appropriate anesthesia or analgesia when needed, using humane endpoints to minimize suffering, handling and housing animals humanely, and monitoring their well-being daily. The institution supports this effort by maintaining a robust animal care program, ensuring trained staff and veterinary oversight, proper facilities, and oversight through a committee that reviews protocols and monitors compliance. Regulatory agencies establish and enforce the standards that govern welfare, using inspections, licenses, and penalties to ensure consistency across institutions. When researchers, institutions, and regulators all uphold these duties, humane treatment is achieved more reliably.