Last February, a primate died at a separate medical school animal facility when anesthesia was improperly administered. And in June 2010, a primate was found dead at the New England Primate Research Center after its cage went through a mechanical washer with the animal in it.
That prompted an October 2010 warning letter to Harvard Medical School from Elizabeth Goldentyer, eastern regional director of animal care at the USDA.
“This notice is being issued at this time as a serious warning that if you fail to comply with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act in the future, this citation and all past and future documented violations will be used to justify a more severe penalty,’’ Goldentyer wrote.
Inspectors do not have the authority to issue fines, according to a USDA spokesman, and the new inspection report did not say whether fines would be issued.
Harvard Medical School said in a statement yesterday that it is committed to following regulations and requirements to ensure biomedical research is ethical.
“We take the USDA findings seriously and deeply regret the situation that led to this recent report,’’ the statement said. “The issues raised by the USDA were promptly corrected. We, working in tandem with new NEPRC leadership, are unwavering in our commitment to continuous quality improvement and to ensuring stringent compliance that enables us to exceed the highest standards of animal welfare and veterinary care.’’
In one of the new citations, a primate scheduled to undergo an imaging procedure escaped during transfer from its enclosure. It was caught with a net and underwent the imaging, but after it was returned to its cage, a staff member saw that the animal was not moving, and a veterinarian confirmed the animal had died. The death was reported to federal agencies.
“All animals should be handled by scientists, research technicians, and animal technicians as expeditiously and carefully as possible in a manner that does not cause behavioral stress, physical harm, or unnecessary discomfort to ensure the health and well-being of the animals,’’ the report stated. “The research facility has taken appropriate steps to address and correct this item.’’
