Elon Musk's Neuralink Under Investigation for 'Human Safety' Risk
source link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/elon-musks-neuralink-under-investigation-human-safety/444914
Go to the source link to view the article. You can view the picture content, updated content and better typesetting reading experience. If the link is broken, please click the button below to view the snapshot at that time.
Elon Musk's Neuralink Is Under Investigation for Allegedly Jeopardizing Human Safety
The company allegedly didn't package and transport devices extracted from the brains of nonhuman primates properly.
By Amanda Breen • Feb 13, 2023
Share
NurPhoto | Getty Images
Elon Musk's brain-computer interface company Neuralink is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation after a physician's group alleged the company had packaged and transported contaminated materials in an unsafe manner.
The animal-welfare group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) said it gathered public records that indicate that Neuralink may have incorrectly dealt with devices harboring infectious pathogens in a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. A DOT spokesperson confirmed an investigation is underway, CNBC reported.
Related: Report: Elon Musk Fired Engineer Over His Declining Popularity
The devices were extracted from the brains of nonhuman primates and may have carried viruses like Herpes B and antibiotic-resistant bacteria like Staphylococcus and Klebsiella, per the letter. According to PCRM, the materials weren't adequately confined or transported; the group alleged that Neuralink employees may not have undergone the required safety training.
A DOT spokesperson told CNBC the investigation is "standard practice."
The outlet reviewed an email exchange between Neuralink and unnamed staffers at the University of California, Davis, which partnered with Neuralink between 2017 and 2020 to conduct experiments on primates. The emails allege that an explanted neural device wasn't "sealed" or "disinfected," posing a hazard and that several other improperly contained devices meant a risk to "human safety."
Related: Tesla Billionaire Elon Musk's Demanding Daily Routine
In December, Reutersreported that the company was under federal investigation for possible animal-welfare violations following internal staff complaints over rapid testing resulting in unnecessary animal suffering and deaths.Recommend
-
4
Elon Musk under federal investigation over Twitter dealPublished2 days ago
-
6
Elon Musk's Neuralink firm facing animal testing investigation - reportPublished18 minutes ago
-
3
Elon Musk's Neuralink is reportedly facing a federal investigation for animal abuseSamantha DelouyaTue, December 6, 2022, 10:05 AM·2 min read
-
2
TechElon Musk’s Neuralink is under investigation for possible unsafe transport of co...
-
12
Rejected — Musk’s bid to start Neuralink human trials denied by FDA in 2022, report says FDA reportedly listed dozens of "deficiencies," including serious safety concerns.
-
9
Elon Musk's Neuralink Finally Gets FDA Approval For Human Testing
-
5
TechElon Musk’s brain implant company Neuralink announces FDA approval of in-human c...
-
7
BusinessElon Musk’s Neuralink says it has FDA approval for human trials: What to know ...
-
7
Groundbreaking News: FDA Grants Approval to Elon Musk’s Neuralink for Human Trials Yana Khare
-
4
Neuralink: Elon Musk's brain chip firm wins US approval for human studyPublished3 days ago
About Joyk
Aggregate valuable and interesting links.
Joyk means Joy of geeK