Concerns Reporting & ACC Response

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Concerns Reporting

A 'Concern' is the term used by the ACC to identify and respond to anything communicated to it by any member regarding animal health and/or welfare, human safety, and/or Animal Use Protocol-related issues.

��Ƶ and affiliates take concerns associated with animal-based science activities very seriously. Every member of ��Ƶ's research community is responsible to notify the proper authorities about concerns with respect to perceived breaches in ethical and/or legal behaviour.

Please promptly notify the Office of the ACC via the Concern Reporting Form (see button below) of any concerns that are not appropriately and quickly resolved through preliminary discussions between the concerned individual and the responsible person, and persistent breaches of compliance or threats to the health and safety of personnel or animals.

In the case of ethical concerns about the ACC, please contact the Office of the Vice-President (Research) directly via vpr@uwo.ca.

As with any disclosures of a sensitive nature, the ACC fully complies with ��Ƶ's (PDF).

When to Use The Concern Reporting Form

Submit a Concern Reporting Form if you are affiliated with ��Ƶ's Animal Ethics & Care Program (or an affiliate) and are reporting unresolved issues related to:

Animal health or welfare
Human safety
Animal Use Protocol (AUP) compliance

Submitter Identity Disclosure Options

1. Confidential Submission

If you choose to provide your name and contact information within the form

Your information is viewed only by The Office of the Animal Care Committee (ACC) staff who are at arms-length from day-to-day operations.
You may also opt to share your contact information with compliance personnel conducting fact-finding, e.g., Compliance Veterinarian, ACC Chair.
They may contact you for clarification and can provide updates on the progress and outcomes of the review and follow-up.

Anonymous Submission

If you choose not to provide your name and contact information within the form:

Your identity will not be known to anyone.
Compliance personnel cannot reach out to you for more information or provide updates on outcomes.

ACC Response

What Happens After You Submit The Form

Your form automatically notifies the Office of the ACC staff who will discreetly (based on submission disclosure preferences) notify the ACC Executive's arms-length compliance leader, the Compliance Veterinarian
The Compliance Veterinarian will undertake initial fact-finding with the complainant (confidential disclosure) and respondents.
- Based on the concern's scope and impact, the Compliance Veterinarian may also invite a panel from the ACC's Executive to participate in fact-finding involving the respondents, to include an ACC community representative.
If the Concern is substantiated, it will be classified by the ACC's Executive Working Group as either an 'Incident' or 'Non-Compliance' (see related documents for definitions).
An Action Plan - which may include Sanctions - will be communicated to the appropriate individuals.
Arms-length follow-up will ensure the Concern is resolved in a timely and meaningful way.

For More Concern-Related Information

��Ƶ's ACC Concerns policy and procedures clearly outline the requirements for identifying, communicating and responding to various ethical issues associated with the Animal Ethics & Care Program at ��Ƶ and affiliates.

Concerns Procedural Flow Charts

Contact Us

For more information, please contact acc@uwo.ca.

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