The monkeys used in the experiments by Neuralink, a US neurotechnology company founded by a group of entrepreneurs including Elon Musk, are subject to "extreme suffering". And some, 15 to be exact, are dead.
This was reported by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), the non-profit organization of over 17,000 doctors that filed a petition with the United States Department of Agriculture for violation of the Animal Welfare Act.
Neuralink is developing an implantable microchip in the brain that allows disabled people to better interact with the world around them. Technology that could also open up enormous possibilities for healthy people in human-machine interaction.
The company responded to the accusations on its blog: “The accusations - it reads - come from people who oppose any use of animals in research. Currently, all new medical devices and treatments must be tested on animals before they can be ethically tested on humans. At Neuralink, we are absolutely committed to working with animals in the most humane and ethical way possible ”. Neuralink eventually admitted that she was forced to euthanize eight individuals.
(Unioneonline / L)
