12. Severity assessment framework

An introduction to how the severity of procedures is classified, the nature and value of the severity assessment framework and applying the severity assessment framework.

Trainees should be able to:

1. Define the concept of a procedure and state when a procedure falls within the scope of the legislation.
2. Identify where the legal definition of the lower threshold and upper limits of severity of procedures are described in the legislation.
3. Provide examples of procedures that fall below the threshold for legislation.
4. Describe the four categories of severity of procedures defined in the legislation, give examples of each category and state the circumstances in which the severe category may be exceeded.
5. Describe the difference between prospective and actual severity of procedures.
6. Differentiate between single and multistep procedures.
7. Explain the difference between re-use and continuous use.
8. Recognise how the actual severity of a procedure determines whether re-use can be legally authorised and if so what the limitations are on further use.
9. Explain the reasons for undertaking a severity assessment of procedures.
10. Explain the multiple factors that should be considered in both the prospective and actual assessment of severity.
11. Describe the concepts of direct and contingent suffering and be able to give examples of procedural and non-procedural harms.
12. Explain how both procedural and non-procedural harms can have adverse effects on the welfare of animals used in research. Describe how refinements can potentially reduce the severity classification of procedures and explain why such refinements should aim to decrease both procedural and non-procedural harms.
13. Describe cumulative severity, the factors to be considered in assessing cumulative severity and the effect this may have on the prospective and actual classification of severity.
14. State the legal requirements for prospective and ongoing actual severity assessment.
15. Explain the need for ongoing assessment of severity to enable application of refinements during procedures to avoid unnecessary suffering, and to enable assessment of the actual severity of procedures.
16. Define the criteria that determine whether a project is required to be retrospectively assessed by the competent authority.
17. Discuss factors to be considered and methods available for assessing and recording the welfare of animals e.g., scoresheets.
18. Explain why a “team” approach, with input from people with different expertise, experience and priorities, e.g., researchers, animal technologists and care staff and the attending veterinarian, should be used to deliver an effective welfare assessment.
19. Correctly assign both prospective and actual severity to at least one example from each of the severity categories. 
20. Describe what a humane endpoint is. Identify criteria to be used to set humane endpoints. Define actions to be taken when a humane endpoint is reached and consider possible options for refining methods to implement an earlier endpoint. 
21. Explain the importance of the severity framework in contributing to the development of the 3Rs.
22. List relevant sources of information on severity assessment.
23. Demonstrate the importance of accurate actual severity assessment in the reporting of annual statistical information on the use of animals in research.
24. Be aware of how actual severity is used when carrying out a retrospective assessment of those projects when this assessment is required.