Neuralink is facing legal action from an animal rights group after claims the company carried out ‘invasive and deadly’ brain experiments on test monkeys.
The sci-fi-esque company was set up by Elon Musk in the hopes of producing a brain implant that could treat or stop neurodegenerative diseases.
However, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine have spoken out in light of 600 pages of ‘disturbing’ documents detailing the treatment of monkeys at the University of California, Davis, on behalf of Neuralink.
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Jeremy Beckham, a research advocacy coordinator with the Physicians Committee, said in a press release: “UC Davis may have handed over its publicly-funded facilities to a billionaire, but that doesn’t mean it can evade transparency requirements and violate federal animal welfare laws.
“The documents reveal that monkeys had their brains mutilated in shoddy experiments and were left to suffer and die. It’s no mystery why Elon Musk and the university want to keep photos and videos of this horrific abuse hidden from the public.”
Allegations made against Neuralink and UC Davis include: a lack of adequate veterinary care for dying monkeys, the use of an unapproved substance called ‘Bioglue’ that killed monkeys after destroying parts of their brains, and a failure to look after the psychological wellbeing of the monkeys.
Reports also suggest the monkeys were caged alone, with steel posts screwed to their skulls that caused ‘facial trauma’, as well as suffering seizures following brain implants, and recurring infections at implant sites.
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The Physicians Committee further suggested that the monkeys, whose health had deteriorated as a result of the deplorable conditions, were euthanised before they could even be used in the experiment.
A spokesperson for UC Davis told Insider the university ‘acted lawfully’ and ‘fully complied with the California Public Records Act in responding to their request’ for information on the experiments and contract.
“Animal research is strictly regulated, and UC Davis follows all applicable laws and regulations including those of the US Department of Agriculture,” they added.
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Just last month, scientists expressed their concern over Neuralink as the company edges closer towards human trials.
Dr. Karola Kreitmair, assistant professor of medical history and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin, told The Daily Beast that we need to really examine how Neuralink will change society.
"I don't think there is sufficient public discourse on what the big picture implications of this kind of technology becoming available are," she said.
"I worry that there's this uncomfortable marriage between a company that is for-profit."
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Elon Musk, Science, Technology, Animals