Humane Euthanasia

Jargon:

Kill - "To cause the death of …". Often treated like a "four letter word". Nothing wrong with it but, in some circles, it is not considered scientific, plus there is a perception that the public prefers to hear more syllables. Also, killing an animal does not necessarily imply a painless death.

Euthanasia - The act of causing painless death. The preferred jargon.

Euthanatize or euthanize - Are you euthanatizing or euthanizing an animal? There are lengthy discussions about which usage is correct but it is irrelevant to the IACUC. However, do not be surprised if a journal editor makes this an issue.

Sacrifice - An odd term used by many instead of euthanasia. A sacrifice is defined as "an offering, as of a life or an object, to a deity." Used frequently as an alternative to less popular terms but is not necessarily an accurate portrayal of what scientists do. To some, a sacrifice implies ritualitstic killing.

Collecting - A field biologist's euphemism for killing or euthanizing wildlife.

Death - permanent abolition of central nervous system function.

 Available methods of Euthanasia:

Methods include mechanical, chemical, electrical, and gaseous methods of producing death.

Whatever the method, death is achieved by three methods:

1. Hypoxia, direct or indirect
2. Depression of the CNS
3. Physical damage of concussion of the brain

 The American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia has published guidelines for humane euthanasia. This is the primary source of guidance for researchers and the IACUC when evaluating methods of humane killing of animals.

Field Research Guidelines

There are recommendations for the appropriate methods of killing wildlife within the Field Research Guidelines. However, those of you conducting field research may find contradictions between the AVMA Report and the Field Research Guidelines. For example: the use of chloroform is not recommended by the AVMA Panel because of human health concerns; however, its use is supported in the American Society of Mammalogists Animal Care and Use Guidelines.

Be sure you have reviewed all sources of information prior to filing an Assurance of Animal Care form. The UAF IACUC can approve most methods of euthanasia if they are scientifically justified. If you propose to deviate from the recommended methods you will be asked for additional justification.

Some Special Considerations: 

1. Not all IACUCs are created equal. At UAA there is a considerable amount of field biology experience on our IACUC; therefore, you may find a different attitude toward certain field activities at other universities.
2. Use of chloroform, although not considered acceptable by the AVMA Panel, is an occupational health and safety issue as opposed to an animal care issue. It is a reasonable euthanasia agent particularly for small mammals and it has the added benefit of killing ectoparasites. However, it is a known hepatotoxin and possible carcinogen. Therefore, it must be handled properly and only used in a well ventilated area (outdoors) or in a fume hood. Go back to Hazard Control in Animal Facilities and the Field to see whom to contact regarding proper acquisition, storage, and use of hazardous compounds.
3. Use of kill traps such as Museum Specials and Conibears to "collect" wildlife is perfectly acceptable if properly justified and used in an appropriate fashion. The IACUC is generally concerned not about using these tools, but whether the person deploying them knows how to properly set traps to ensure a humane kill and to reduce the likelihood of killing or injuring non-target species.
4. Use of gunshot is an acceptable means of "collecting" wildlife as long as the appropriate weapon and ammunition is used. Like trapping, the IACUC requires confirmation that the individual doing the shooting can offer a quick, humane kill and is experienced enough to properly identify the target species.
5. Suffocation is not an acceptable means of killing fish unless it is truly unavoidable or if there is scientific justification to allow a fish to suffocate. As an example, trawling for scientific purposes does not allow the opportunity to ensure a humane kill (i.e. blow to the head) on every fish brought up. When dealing with 100s or 1000s of fish on the deck of a boat there is no feasible means to render each fish unconscious! However, for capture techniques whereby a small number of fish are being caught, the IACUC expects you to include a method for rendering fish unconscious or explain why this cannot be done.
6. Chest compression of small birds and small mammals is not generally considered to be a method of humane euthanasia, partly because the method of death is not known. It seems that there is a mechanism other than suffocation involved. The UAA IACUC may approve chest compression for certain procedures if adequate scientific justification is provided. This procedure is considered on a case by case method. Please note that euthanasia of small birds via chest compression is now discussed and considered acceptable in the most recent Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia (see link above).
7. Death by decapitation is only allowed when the animal is rendered unconscious by an acceptable method or is under deep general anesthesia. This committee may make exceptions for animals under deep hibernation but each project is assessed individually.
8. Use of barbiturates to euthanize animals is only acceptable if the carcass will be incinerated or properly disposed of. Under NO circumstance may you euthanize animals with barbiturates and leave the carcass in the field. There are numerous reports of scavengers, particularly eagles, dying after feasting on a barbiturate laced carcass.
9. All carcasses and tissues obtained from UAA research animals MUST be incinerated. Go back to Hazard Control in Animal Facilities and the Field to see whom to contact for incineration of carcasses and animal tissues
10. Use of potassium chloride or a paralytic like succinyl choline chloride as a euthanasia agent is acceptable only if the animal is already under deep anesthesia.

If you are aware of any other contradictions or "special considerations" regarding euthanasia please let the IACUC know!