ABSTRACT
One of the most contentious roles of the IACUC is its mandate to review allegations of animal mistreatment and protocol noncompliance. This must be done carefully and with the utmost concern for due process and condentiality as careers may be severely hurt by unfounded accusations and unsubstantiated rumors. Nevertheless, the welfare of animals cannot be compromised. The result is the thin line on which the IACUC walks. The intent of this chapter is to provide the reader with guidance to many of the problems that IACUCs face when confronted with allegations of animal mistreatment and protocol noncompliance. It is important to remember that allegations remain nothing more than allegations until proven otherwise.
