Answer: “Why are we wasting energy trying to distinguish between a minor amendment and
a major amendment?” asked Joanie Green,
the new IACUC senior administrator at
Great Eastern University. It seemed to her
that if there was a request to add a procedure to a protocol it was to be considered
an amendment, nothing more or less. “Are
you saying that adding a small subcutaneous
implant is as important as adding a cardiac
valve replacement?” asked Bob Thorne, a
clinical veterinarian. Green responded that
it had nothing to do with the level of difficulty or risk to an animal, but whether
or not there was a need for IACUC review.